Aristotle (384 BCE) was a philosopher and scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to both fields. During Aristotle's lifetime, he also taught a variety of subjects, including philosophy, ethics, logic, and politics. Among Aristotle's best-known works are Poetics, Nichomachean Ethics, Politics, and Metaphysics. Let's take a look at Aristotle's life and death, philosophy, and books.

Aristotle: biography

Aristotle was born in approximately 384 BCE in Stagira, Greece, to parents Nicomachus and Phaestis. When Aristotle was still young, his father passed away, and as a result, Aristotle moved to Athens. Aristotle joined the Academy of Plato as a pupil, and later he became Plato's protégé. Little is known about Aristotle's life. However, what we do know is that during his lifetime, he contributed greatly to the fields of philosophy and science, teaching subjects such as philosophy, ethics, logic, and politics along the way.

In 322 BCE, Aristotle died of a stomach illness. Aristotle is buried in Stagira, Greece, in a tomb.

Aristotle: philosophy

Aristotle made many contributions to philosophy, ethics, science, the arts, and politics, and he had different theories concerning each of these. Many of Aristotle's key theories, however, pertained to metaphysics. Let's have a look at some of these below:

Aristotle: ethical theory

Aristotle believed that in order to achieve eudaimonia, the ultimate state of happiness or human flourishing, individuals needed to focus first on being virtuous. According to Aristotle, it is by living a virtuous life that one can then become truly happy.

Aristotle: metaphysical theory

Aristotle: consciousness

Aristotle believed that life forms are not abstract objects, and posited that these forms live very much within space and time. Likewise, Aristotle believed that our consciousness is within our physical body, and is not separate from us.

Aristotle: the universe

According to Aristotle, everything in existence consists of one or more of these five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and aether.

Aristotle: evolution

Aristotle believed that life forms developed gradually from simple to more complex forms, and that all life forms first originated from the sea.

Aristotle: books and quotes

Aristotle: Poetics

Written circa 330 BCE, Aristotle's Poetics is a work of literary and dramatic theory. In Poetics, Aristotle focuses in particular on tragedy and poetry.

Aristotle: tragedy in Poetics

In his Poetics, Aristotle explores the typical features that make up a tragedy. Aristotle compared the genre of tragedy to comedy and the epic, and stated that it often contained serious action and incidents which were able to arouse pity and fear in its audiences. In defining the tragic hero, Aristotle noted that they could be neither excessively good nor excessively evil, but a balanced mixture of the two.

Aristotle: poetry in Poetics

Aristotle examines the fundamental parts of poetry in his Poetics. According to Aristotle, poetry is the artful use of rhythm, language, and harmony, happening at once or separately. Aristotle posited that, unlike philosophy, poetry is imitative, as it draws from and reflects real-life people, objects, and events. It is for this reason, Aristotle says, that humans are so drawn in by poetry. He also states that we can, in fact, learn from poetry.

Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics

Written circa 350 BCE, Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics is a philosophical and ethical exploration into humanity, and in particular, human moral virtues. Aristotle writes that balanced virtues are a means to eudaimonia, in other words, the ultimate state of happiness or human flourishing. Aristotle defines virtue, and distinguishes between the different types of virtue, i.e. moral and intellectual. He also answers the question of what exactly constitutes a virtuous person. Let's take a look at some of the different virtues that Aristotle explores in Nichomachean Ethics:

Aristotle: Politics

Aristotle's Politics, written around 350 BCE, is a close examination of politics, and in particular, of what exactly makes a good and a bad government. Aristotle states that as humans we are political animals. Aristotle claims that being associated with politics is what will allow us to live fulfilled, high-quality lives. Let's take a look at Aristotle's categories of what he perceives to be good and bad government:

Aristotle: good government

Aristotle: Bad government

Aristotle: Metaphysics

Also written circa 350 BCE, Aristotle's Metaphysics is a study of existence, or being. In Metaphysics, Aristotle rejects the Theory of Forms presented by Plato, in which Plato posited that reality is abstract and that we exist beyond the physical world. According to Aristotle, our life forms are not abstract objects, and live within space and time. Likewise, Aristotle posited that our consciousness is not separate from us, but lies within our physical body.

Aristotle's theories, such as that of the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and aether), laid fundamental groundwork for studies within biology long after he had passed away. He also inspired the works of many important figures and their discoveries. There are clear parallels, for example, between his theory that life forms developed gradually from simple to more complex forms, and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Aristotle has made important contributions to almost every field of knowledge, and those he gave to the fields of science and philosophy are still relevant to us today.

1. Aristotle, Poetics, circa 330 BCE (translated by S. H. Butcher, 1902 edition)

2. Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, circa 350 BCE (translated by F. H. Peters, 1906)

3. Aristotle, Politics, circa 350 BCE (translated by B. Jowett, 1885)

4. Aristotle, Metaphysics, circa 350 BCE (translated by T. Taylor, 1801)