King Alexander III of Macedon, more commonly known as Alexander the Great, was tutored by Aristotle. However, it is not clear whether he actually studied with him. Alexander’s father Philip II of Macedon brought Aristotle to Macedon to tutor his son Alexander, who was then 13 years old. Aristotle tutored the young prince for about a year before returning to Athens. The exact nature of the relationship between philosopher and pupil is unclear, but modern historians agree that it was a significant one.
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived from 384 to 322 BC. He wrote some of the most influential works in all of Western philosophy, including Metaphysics, Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, and Poetics. The latter two works were written while he tutored Alexander the Great.
While it’s difficult to know exactly what Aristotle taught Alexander, we do have some hints from his other writings. For example, in Politics, Aristotle describes three types of government: monarchy (rule by one person), aristocracy (rule by a few), and democracy (rule by many). In his view, each type had its own merits and drawbacks depending on circumstances.
Alexander was reportedly very impressed with Aristotle’s teachings about the benefits of democracy. Aristotle also encouraged Alexander to explore other cultures so that he could better understand their values and customs.
