Life and Work of a Famous Greek Thinker - Essay Example

Aristotle was appointed the tutor to Alexander in 343 B.C (Williams 44). For three years he remained tutor to Alexander until the Prince turned 16. Not much is known of the relationship between Aristotle and Alexander, yet Alexander’s terrific career stands to be an apt testimony to the practicality of Aristotle’s philosophy. Aristotle resided in Athens in 335 B.C. to 323 B.C. It was in these 12 years that Aristotle wrote most of his works. However, after the death of Alexander, Aristotle had to flee from Athens to avoid persecution at the hands of Athenian rebels (Williams 53).

As per some credible records, Aristotle died in 322 B.C (Williams 16). It is said that Aristotle wrote three treatises on ethics. However, two of them are today attributed to his disciples and it is the third one that is Nicomachean Ethics that is known to be written by Aristotle (Broadie 4). The views pertaining to ethics professed by Aristotle in this treatise present a good insight into the mindset of the mature and educated men of his age. In this treatise Aristotle lays out the principles by which the well behaved citizens need to conduct themselves.

Till the late 17th century, Aristotle’s treatise on ethics had a great influence on the politics and statecraft and continued to be source of inspiration for the future scholars and statesmen (Broadie 5). One other treatise by Aristotle called Politics is regarded to be the very source of varied principles that held a great sway till the culmination of the Middle Ages (Weber 396). This treatise is not only a source of apt information regarding the ways of government in non-Hellenic States, but stood to be a pivotal instrument of defense of democracy in the times of Aristotle (Weber 396).

The assumptions embedded in Politics not only were strongly entrenched in the Athens under Pericles, but the Aristotelian concept of governance by cultured gentlemen had its reverberations in Renaissance Age, till it was modified by French Revolution and industrialism (Weber 397). Though Aristotle’s genius greatly influenced many aspects of the Greek civic life and the statecraft in the following ages, it was in the sphere of Logic that it reached its zenith (Ackrill 79). Aristotle’s dominance in logic flourished right through the Middle Ages, till he was accorded a dominion in the area of metaphysics by the Christian philosophers in the 13th century (Ackrill 80).

Though Aristotle strain of Logic is today quiet antiquated, still many Catholic theologians, scientists and mathematicians prefer to adhere to his system (Ackrill 84). Aristotle’s doctrine of syllogism is the most important contribution by Aristotle to the field of Logic (Ackrill 80). When considering the contribution of Aristotle to modern sciences, two of his other works that are Physics and On the Heavens do need to be mentioned (Judson 19). These works greatly influenced the world of science in the Greek times and their domination continued till the times of Galileo (Judson 19).

Aristotle’s views regarding planets and stars though were immensely influenced by the Pagan beliefs of his times were actually well received and accepted by the medieval Christians. Aristotle’s philosophy had a significant impact on both the Islamic and Western philosophy (Ackrill 9). Aristotle not only studied and meticulously delved on almost every subject and discipline existing in his times, but in fact made a significant contribution to the existing