Quick Facts
Father of Logic," Aristotle shaped thought, tutored Alexander, and founded Lyceum.
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Life Journey
Aristotle died in 322 BCE in Chalcis, Euboea, at the age of 62. His death marked the end of a prolific and influential career, but his philosophical and scientific legacy continued to shape Western thought for centuries to come. His works were preserved and studied by later scholars, ensuring his enduring impact on human knowledge.
Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, anti-Macedonian sentiment in Athens grew, and Aristotle faced charges of impiety. To avoid prosecution and potential execution, he left Athens and moved to Chalcis, on the island of Euboea, where he continued his philosophical work.
After returning to Athens in 335 BCE, Aristotle founded his own school, the Lyceum, which became one of the most prominent philosophical and scientific institutions of the time. The Lyceum was known for its peripatetic teaching style, where students would walk and discuss philosophical and scientific topics.
During his time at the Lyceum, Aristotle produced a vast body of work covering a wide range of subjects, including metaphysics, ethics, logic, politics, and biology. His major works include 'Nicomachean Ethics,' 'Politics,' 'Metaphysics,' and 'On the Soul.' These texts have had a profound and lasting impact on Western philosophy and science.
Aristotle was invited by Philip II of Macedon to tutor his son, the future Alexander the Great. This role lasted from 343 to 340 BCE. During this time, Aristotle imparted knowledge in a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, politics, and ethics, which would later influence Alexander's approach to governance and conquest.
Following the death of Plato in 347 BCE, Aristotle left the Academy. He did not inherit the leadership of the Academy, which was given to Plato's nephew Speusippus. Aristotle then traveled to Assos, a city in Asia Minor, where he joined a group of philosophers and continued his work.
At the age of 17, Aristotle moved to Athens to study at Plato's Academy, where he remained for nearly 20 years. During this period, he immersed himself in the philosophical and scientific teachings of Plato and other prominent thinkers of the time, laying the foundation for his own philosophical and scientific contributions.
Aristotle was born in 384 BCE in the ancient Greek city of Stagira, located in the Chalkidiki peninsula. His father, Nicomachus, was a physician to King Amyntas III of Macedon. This familial connection to the Macedonian court would later influence Aristotle's life and career.