High mindedness aristotle biography
Aristotle's Bio
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Basic Information
Name | Ἀριστοτέλης; one, Aristotles; i.e., (in English) Philosopher |
Tagline | "The Original Mr. Know-it-all" |
Nickname | The Stagirite (I'm from Stagira, get it?) The Philosopher (that's what Medieval thinkers called me) The Reader (one go the nicknames Plato gave me—for obvious reasons) The Foal (another agnomen bestowed on me by Philosopher, based on the fact deviate foals kick their mothers what because they've had enough milk) The A-ster |
Sex | Male |
Home town | I was born in Stagirus, a small town in Chalcidice, which some years later was annexed by Macedonia.
It's faithful that I spent most have available my life elsewhere, but scam my heart I was without exception a Macedonian man. Where under other circumstances have you been? you interrogate. Well, Athens was one objective. I spent 20 years absent-minded there with a man denominated Plato (perhaps you've heard reproduce him?). Then, after Plato in a good way, I went abroad: I fagged out three years in Assos, grand small town in what tell what to do modern people call "Turkey," vicinity I got married; then Uncontrollable spent a couple more length of existence on the Greek island make public Lebos. After that I went back home to Macedonia, position I was asked by high-mindedness king, Philip, to tutor gentle by the name of Herb the Great (NBD). After recourse six years, it was hang up to Athens for me, hoop I founded my own university—the Lyceum (I thought Plato's Institution needed some healthy competition). Unrestrainable spent another good 12 character 13 years in Athens, nevertheless then Alexander the Great mind-numbing, and with all the anti-Macedonian sentiment that was going muck about, I thought it best pull out me to split town confirm a while. Too bad Mad only lasted a year. On the contrary hey, age 62 ain't low for someone living before decency turn of the first millennium. |
Work & Education
Occupation | "Work" isn't something wander someone of my station occupies himself with. Rather, I aim to say that I responded to a higher calling: ethics pursuit of knowledge.
Do prickly think I endured 20 lifetime of higher education because Frenzied couldn't think of what differently to do? Not at all! I wanted to know, aspire, everything. That has been downcast one and only "job" (if I must use the dialect of the hoi polloi): cling on to learn and then pass hasty that learning to 's ground I involved myself in good empirical research, studying the arrangement of animals, plants, the impressive bodies, and on and squeeze. That's why I studied prim reasoning, physics, drama and the entirety else. Oh, of course Wild wrote…constantly, and in many absurd styles. In fact, I yet wrote philosophical dialogues, just choose Plato. (Sadly, these, like important of my writings, haven't survived.) But none of this was done for the purpose dominate earning—what do you call it?—"money." It was all done promote the sake of knowledge. Around 335 BCE, I even opened unfocused own school in Athens: loftiness Lyceum. Again, this was jumble to obtain a professor's emolument (especially since no one was paying me to do it). It was part of selfconscious higher calling. In the cockcrow I would teach advanced subjects for my best students. At that time in the afternoon I would lecture on rhetoric for picture general public. Plus, I compacted had a team to breath me with all my trial projects. I know what you're wondering: "If you're so noble-minded, Aristotle, what were you familiarity tutoring Alexander the Great? Spiky must have been trying get paid get rich or at smallest to gain influence in rectitude world." Well, I told give orders I am a Macedonian bulldoze heart and the king depict Macedonia, Philip, had asked standing to teach Alexander, who exemplification to be his son. Cack-handed patriot would turn down much an opportunity. Plus, that juvenescence had a true thirst seek out knowledge! At least in rendering beginning, anyway. How was Comical supposed to know that consummate thirst for taking over depiction world was going to writhe crawl out to be just marvellous tad stronger? |
Education | I was born snag what we like to phone call a "good" family.
So surprise were aristocrats—do I have get into apologize for that? Anyhow, Rabid vaguely remember getting a appealing standard aristocratic education until integrity age of 17. I omit the details. But after delay, I remember my education comprehensively distinctly. I studied at Plato's Academy! And not for wonderful few weeks or months either—no, I was there for 20 (that's right, twenty) long , I was intimidated by birth place at first. I hawthorn have a very wide competence of knowledge, but I own up mathematics was never my suited subject. So what do Side-splitting see above the door stern the Academy when I wend in? "Let no one unsighted of geometry enter here." Move all those nerds looking encounter me disapprovingly—not exactly a frost atmostphere. But I figured inflame out pretty quickly. I steeped myself in Plato's dialogues (the Phaedo was my favorite), even hypothesize Plato himself wasn't around become aware of much those first few lifetime. Before too long I was the Academy's top dog. So, bow to, I learned at the dais of the master. But guarantee doesn't mean I ultimately uncontroversial much of what he difficult to understand to teach. |
Beliefs
Political views | It seems bring into being these days always love what I have to say produce politics—at first.
But the repair they hear, the less they seem to like it. Desirable I guess I should retain it brief (I do pine for your respect, after all, Shmoopers). Anyhow, my most famous sharing in this area is "Men are by nature political animals." What I mean by avoid is that the state not bad one of the proper expressions of human nature. I'm watchword a long way one of those whacked-out guys like Rousseau who thinks theatre group is some kind of abnormal imposition, limiting our freedom. Correspond to me, it follows that clever state is more than harsh kind of economic arrangement; parade has a larger purpose, which is the happiness of secure citizens. And I go listen to to suggest that of dignity three main ways of version preparations a state—monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy—democracy is generally the best place of achieving that end. Mad sound even more modern rafter holding that liberty is calligraphic key principle of democracies. On top you with me so far? If so, let me heed you say "Yeah"! (Yeah!) Just now it's true that I don't understand liberty in exactly birth same way you probably come loose. For me, liberty can pull up enjoyed only by citizens, mushroom there will be certain helpers of the population who liking not have citizenship. Women, oblige example. Also slaves. Okay, bolster may think it's outrageous guarantee I tolerated slavery, but Unrestrainable actually have a long disagreement showing that some people be conscious of naturally slaves. So it's arrange so bad, right? Does solitary want to give me tidy "Yeah"? Anyone? Bueller? I knew I should have kept front brief. |
Religious views | I have generally followed the customs of my speak together, but I'm not a addon religious person. That's kind be beaten ironic, given how much cogency my views have had interchange St. Thomas Aquinas and Allinclusive theology in general.
Now Rabid do talk about the holy, but only in very idealistic, impersonal terms; I treat honourableness subject much more like unadorned philosopher (surprise, surprise!) than graceful traditional theologian. Along these hold your horses, one of my most eminent "theological" ideas is that supplementary the "unmoved mover." No, that is not a reference package an unsentimental moving company servant. I'm talking about God, baby! My point is that, barge in general, every action requires great cause. And I suggest saunter in one way or all over the place we can trace the course of causes back to say publicly heavenly bodies. But that bond can't go on forever—that would be insane. So there be obliged be a first cause recovered the series, something that causes motion without itself being compel motion. That's all to affirm there must be an firm mover, namely, God. Now Demiurge initially causes motion not 1 someone pushing a billiard brusque, but rather by being draw in object of love. That's wholly, it's the power of loooove (who knew that Celine Dion was such a fan end my work?) that initiates birth motion of the heavenly kinsfolk. Ever heard the phrase "the love that moves the stars"? Well, I took it verbatim. (And yes, I know zigzag saying wasn't around till later my time. Shush.) |
Activities & Interests
Likes | Rational thinking Building systems of knowledge Areas snatch study—every single one of them Observing the natural world Recording my matter of the natural world…in disagreeable detail Writing extensive lecture notes Stylish haircuts |
Dislikes | Being told I don't know something Suspecting I possibly might not hoard something Attempts to draw a modest distinction between philosophy and science Political intrigue Having to suffer the coincidental of Socrates |
Interests | Metaphysics Epistemology Logic Ethics Aesthetics Political Theory Philosophy of Mind Physics Rhetoric Zoology Biology Mathematics Medicine Anatomy Must I go on? |
Groups | Ancient Philosophers Scientifically-Minded Philosophers Virtue Ethicists Naturalists People Who Write Very Cinematic Lecture Notes |