10 interesting facts about Aristotle – the greatest philosopher

People seeking knowledge should definitely read the books of the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), but you need to start with certain ones, since his works are very difficult for beginners – they were written for colleagues.

You can start with Aristotle for All, which lays out complex philosophical ideas in simple terms. “Metaphysics” is a very useful book, it prompts a person to think about the essence of human life and the existence of the world in general, but it is difficult to read it. To understand it, you need to reread it several times.

As Aristotle said:All people by nature strive for knowledge.and he was not wrong. If you are here, you probably want to learn something new for yourself. We will gladly give you this opportunity. We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Aristotle: stories from the biography and scientific activities of the philosopher and founder of logic, whose works influenced the worldview of many people.

10 He was a student of Plato, a teacher of Macedonian

Aristotle, studying for 20 years with the great philosopher Plato, all this time treated him with deep respect and even reverence. As a student of Plato’s school, Aristotle taught the philological discipline – rhetoric, but Plato died (it happened in 347 BC on his birthday), and Aristotle did not stay in the academy, which was headed by another person, so he went to his friend Hermias in the town of Miezu.

As regards the activities of the teacher, Aristotle began to teach the famous commander Alexander the Great the principles of the latest (for that time) humanistic philosophy at the invitation of the king of Macedonia, Philip II (father of Alexander). Aristotle taught him for 8 years before his accession. Classes were held in a relaxed atmosphere during a walk along Mieza.

9. I preferred to conduct classes with students on walks

Aristotle organized his school near the temple of Apollo of Lyceum. He taught lessons in the portico – he, along with his students, walked in the shade (walks were called “peripate”, which is why his students were called “peripatetics”), and during the walk he talked with them.

Like a teacher, Aristotle’s students walked back and forth during a lecture, walking. Walks were divided into 2 shifts: morning and evening. In the evening lectures and talks were held on the exoteric program, and in the evening there were classes for a narrow circle of students who, according to Aristotle, were endowed with a special mind and a great desire for knowledge.

8. Became one of the first popularizers of science

Aristotle is the first of the thinkers who was able to create an extensive system of philosophical science. It covered all areas of human development: philosophy, logic, politics, sociology, physics.

One of the first he founded science in its broadest sense: he first created a system of nature – physics. The views of Aristotle in many ways had a huge impact on the development of the thoughts of mankind. Aristotle was able to cover almost all available (for that time) knowledge.

One of the main teachings of the “first philosophy” is the doctrine of 4 reasons: the essence and essence of being, matter and the subject, the driving reason and the target reason.

Interesting fact: Aristotle wrote 2 types of works: some of them were intended for a wide range of people (comprehensible to ordinary people), and others for teachers and students.

7. Founded a new school of philosophy

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle taught at Plato’s academy for about 20 years. During this time, he created such significant works as “Metaphysics”, “On the Soul”, and also created works on logic, rhetoric and physics.

When Plato died, Aristotle, along with Xenocrates, moved to Hermias in Miez (another student of Plato). There Aristotle organized his first school of philosophy and married his adopted daughter Hermias. However, after 3 years his wife died, and Aristotle returned to Macedonia, having received an invitation from Philip II to teach Alexander the Great – his son.

The training lasted 8 years, Philip II was killed, so Aristotle took power into his own hands. Returning to Athens, Aristotle created a school of philosophy.

6. The first polymath in history

Scholars are those who have broad knowledge. This can be said about Aristotle – he deservedly bears the title of the first erudite in history.. He loved the world in which he lived, and he had a thirst for its knowledge. Aristotle sought to penetrate the essence of things and phenomena so that the future generation could absorb his knowledge.

In addition to philosophical teachings, Aristotle devoted his time to the study of scientific fields: astronomy, botany, biology, physics. With his friend Theophrastus, he even visited the island of Lesvos to study the plants and animals that were common there.

5. Took part in the Olympic Games

Aristotle was famous for having deep knowledge in many areas, from philosophy to biology. By the way, it is very surprising that Aristotle was able to see in the structure of leaves what biologists can only see with a microscope.

In addition, he was a participant in sports competitions. Many ancient thinkers took part in the Olympic Games (for example, Socrates, Democritus) – Aristotle is also among the participants and winners.

4. Almost 70% of works and scientific papers have not been preserved

Aristotle was driven by: hard work, love of knowledge and truth, the desire to rally his students around scientific work – all this was necessary to do in science and philosophy what Aristotle managed to do.

The botanical works of the philosopher have not survived, according to data, 70% of his works were lost (that is, most). But of the surviving works there are very important ones that give an accurate and scientific idea of ​​the totality of Aristotle’s views. Of his 200 pieces, only about 31 are in circulation.

3. Considered the thinking center of the heart, not the brain

Aristotle suggested that the heart muscle is the main organ of the soul. And the mind was presented as the ability of the soul. According to Aristotle, blood and muscles performed the functions of nerves, since at that time there was no science of neurology.

Unlike Plato (his teacher), the philosopher did not separate the soul from the body, so it is quite logical that he considered the heart to be the main thinking center. The heart, as he suggested, is the organ responsible for regulating blood flow, and the brain regulates the “heat of the blood.”

Aristotle was of the opinion that the heart muscle is responsible for all mental processes and thinking, and the brain plays only an auxiliary role.

2. Claimed that the universe is not infinite

The Greek philosopher believed that the universe has a beginning and an end. It is shaped like a sphere, and the center of the Universe is the Earth.

Everything that exists consists of 4 elements: earth, fire, air and water. The earth, as Aristotle believed, is motionless, and consists of an earthen ball – that is, of land. On this ball there is water – oceans, and then there is a layer of air. The outer layer is fire, and it reaches the moon.

Aristotle believed that everything has an end and a beginning, and argued that there are potential infinities, but not actual ones.

1. Founder of logic and psychology

Aristotle is not only the founder of logic, but also of psychology. If you are interested, we invite you to read the treatise “On the Soul” – one of the most famous works of the philosopher.

Logic as we know it is, to one degree or another, based on the reasoning of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. And one of his main achievements in this science is 3 logical laws.

The logic of Aristotle, one might say, is “thinking about thinking”, in short, it studies: the main types of being, connections and their separation, ways due to which the mind, by reasoning, passes from the known truth to the unknown.