The Philosopher, Aristotle

Introduction

The ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle was an amazing individual who possessed a multitude of talents ranging from mastery of rhetoric to interest in physiology. Aristotle lived during the fourth century B.C. in ancient Greece. The culture of the Greeks during this time differs greatly from our present day life and times. Aristotle came into contact with many great men of history, from Plato his instructor and mentor to Alexander the Great, conquerer and ruler of the east.

Discussion

The works of Aristotle have left many after him to contemplate his theories and attitudes toward life and his Realism movement. The time in which Aristotle lived was one where to be heard one had to possess a loud voice and master the art of persuasion, or rhetoric. This was the case throughout Greece, specifically in Athens, where Aristotle spent the major part of his life. The law in Athens came from a group of about five thousand men who were the land holders in the city. In this group an individual must be heard in order to defend himself and others in need. This was accomplished by those trained in rhetoric. Therefore those who taught this art stood to obtain a lot of wealth from their endeavors. These were known as sophists with whom much contempt was held by such philosophers as Socrates. 'The greatest school of Rhetoric in all Greece was at this period held in Athens by the renowned Isocrates, who was at the zenith of his reputation.'(Swanson 1992)

A competitor with this school was Plato's Academy of philosophy which is where Aristotle arrived at in the year 367 B.C.. Plato became Aristotle's teacher and soon realized the massive potential and sheer intellect that Aristotle possessed. Aristotle was born in 384 B.C. in a town just outside the borders of the Macedonian Empire, called Stageira. He was rumored to have been raised in the customs of the Asclepiad. 'It was the custom in Asclepiad families for the boys to be trained by their father in the practice of dissection just as regularly as boys in other families learn to read and write.'(Collins p. 3) When Aristotle turned seventeen his father, Nicomachus died and he was put under the care of Proxenus of Atarneus, who sent him to Athens to further his education under the tutorship of the great philosopher, Plato. It was at Plato's Academy that Aristotle was realized for his potential and was able to grow in knowledge and understanding of philosophy. It was not long before Aristotle became known as 'the Mind of the School' and he stayed there for about twenty years. During this time Aristotle became well known and respected as a writer and orator. His philosophy however grew to differ greatly from that of his mentor's, as well as against those of the previously mentioned, Isocrates.

In fact his orations 'during his earlier residence at Athens show him somewhat petulantly attacking both Plato and Isocrates.'(Collins p. His arguments against his teacher's philosophies ...