42 Ancient Facts About Aristotle
“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.”— Aristotle
One of the great philosophers and scientists of the Hellenic age, Aristotle has shaped human knowledge for millennia after his death. In fact, he has been called the “Father of Western Philosophy” due to his immense impact the field long after his death. Aristotle was also closely linked to another huge figure in European history: the legendary conqueror Alexander the Great. Such an impactful figure who lived so long ago has inspired much speculation and investigation, yet we know very little for sure about this man’s fascinating life. However, here are some facts that could be found about this incomparably influential figure.
42. Living the Noble Life
While Aristotle was famously invited by King Philip II of Macedon to tutor his son, Alexander, it was hardly the first time that Aristotle’s family had tangled with Macedonian royalty. Aristotle’s father, Nicomachus, had been the personal doctor to King Philip’s father, Amyntas III.
41. Living the Library Life in the Lyceum
With the prestige of having been Alexander’s tutor, Aristotle set himself up in Athens. He founded a library inside the famed temple to Apollo Lyceusknown as the Lyceum, becoming an established scholar in his own right while also being able to say “Shhhhh” to a new generation of students.
40. He Had a Yearly Pass to All the Zoos
Despite being remembered as a philosopher, Aristotle was also the first man in human history to systematically study biology. He particularly favored the study of living things, and as such he devoted much of his writing to it. Most of this writing that we have today is focused on animals rather than plants, but that’s only because most of Aristotle’s writings on botany (the study of plants) have been lost to history.
39. Thank You for Our In-Laws
Tragically, Aristotle’s mother and father both died by the time he was 13 years old. Aristotle was put into care of a man named Proxenus of Atarneus. Proxenus had married Aristotle’s older sister, Arimneste, and so became the legal guardian of the orphaned Aristotle.
