Aristotle was born in 384 BC and died in 322 BC. He was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived in Athens, Greece.
Aristotle’s father was Nicomachus, a doctor of medicine at the Macedonian court, who died when Aristotle was young. His mother, Phaestis, also came from a family of physicians. Aristotle had two brothers, Hermeas and Lamprus; both were famous as well. Hermeas became a general in Alexander the Great’s army while Lamprus became an astronomer and mathematician.
Moreover, Aristotle studied under Plato from 367 to 347 BC at the Academy of Athens where he learned rhetoric, mathematics, physics and biology among other subjects. It is said that Aristotle fell out of favor with Plato because he disagreed with Plato’s views on politics and ethics. Aristotle then left Athens to travel around Greece for 20 years before returning to Athens where he founded his own school called The Lyceum around 335 BC.
In fact, Aristotle is considered by many to be the father of modern science. He developed the scientific method and contributed to our understanding of biology and zoology (the study of animals). He also contributed to logic, mathematics and physics. Aristotle’s ideas were influential in many areas of thought including politics, ethics and psychology (the study of the mind).
Though Aristotle wrote many elegant treatises and dialogues (of which only fragments remain), it is thought that his greatest achievements were in philosophy—especially ethics and metaphysics—and politics. In philosophy he developed an innovative approach to knowledge.
