ARISTOTLE'S BIOGRAPHY

ARISTOTELES

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He was the founder of the Lyceum and the Peripatetic school of philosophy and Aristotelian tradition. Along with his teacher Plato, he has been called the "Father of Western Philosophy"                    

Early Life, Family and Education

Aristotle was born circa 384 B.C. in Stagira, a small town on the northern coast of Greece that was once a seaport.

Aristotle’s father, Nicomachus, was court physician to the Macedonian king Amyntas II. Although Nicomachus died when Aristotle was just a young boy, Aristotle remained closely affiliated with and influenced by the Macedonian court for the rest of his life. Little is known about his mother, Phaestis; she is also believed to have died when Aristotle was young.

After Aristotle’s father died, Proxenus of Atarneus, who was married to Aristotle’s older sister, Arimneste, became Aristotle’s guardian until he came of age. When Aristotle turned 17, Proxenus sent him to Athens to pursue a higher education. At the time, Athens was considered the academic center of the universe. In Athens, Aristotle enrolled in plato’s Academy, Greek’s premier learning institution, and proved an exemplary scholar. Aristotle maintained a relationship with Greek philosopher Plato, himself a student of Socrates, and his academy for two decades. Plato died in 347 B.C. Because Aristotle had disagreed with some of Plato’s philosophical treatises, Aristotle did not inherit the position of director of the academy, as many imagined he would.

After Plato died, Aristotle’s friend Hermias, king of Atarneus and Assos in Mysia, invited Aristotle to court.

Aristoteles studied at the Platonic Academy, he also has a spouse, Pythias

FACT ABOUT ARISTOTELES

Aristotle was born somewhere around 384 BCE. His birth place was Stagira, Chalcide in Macedonia, which is now known as northern Greece.
2. His father was Nicomachus. His mother was Phaestis. Nicomachus was a court physician for Amyntas II – the Macedonian King.
3. Nicomachus died when Aristotle was a young boy. Not much is known about Phaestis. It is believed that even Phaestis died when Aristotle was young.
4. After the death of Nicomachus, Proxenus – husband of Aristotle’s sister Arimneste, became the guardian of young Aristotle.
5. When Aristotle attained the age of 17, Proxenus sent Aristotle to Athens so that Aristotle can pursue higher education.
After reaching Athens, Aristotle enrolled in the Academy of Plato or Plato’s Academy. Soon Aristotle was recognized as an extraordinary scholar.
7. Aristotle had close relationship with Plato and was one of his most favorite pupils. It was believed that after Plato, Aristotle would become the director of the Academy.
8. After Plato’s death in 347 BCE, Aristotle didn’t inherit the position of director because Aristotle could not agree to some of philosophical treatise of Plato.
9. Aristotle was invited to court of Hermias – a friend of Aristotle and King of Mysia’s Atarneus and Assos.
10. Aristotle stayed in the court of Hermias for a period of 3 years. During that period, he married Hermias’ niece Pythias. Aristotle fathered a daughter with Pythias. The name of the daughter was also Pythias
11. He also wrote a book, an example of a book he wrote is “poetics”, “Nicomachean Ethics” and “Eudemian Ethics”, “Metaphysics”, etc.

“Be a free thunker and don’t accept ecerything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in.” –Aristotle ( 384 BC – 322 BC )

QUESTION

1.   Who was Aristotle’s wife?

A.     Nicomachus

B.      Phaestis

C.      Plato

D.     Hermias

E.     Pythias

2.   Who was the most famous aristotle’s teacher?

A.     Plato

B.      Pythias

C.      Proxenus

D.     Nicomachus

E.      Albert einstein

3.   When Aristotle was Born?

A.    384 B.C

B.     355 B.C

C.     386 B.C

D.    401 B.C

E.     383 B.C