People seeking knowledge should definitely read the books of the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), but you need to start with certain ones, since his works are very difficult for beginners - they were written for colleagues.
You can start with the book Aristotle for All, which sets out complex philosophical ideas in simple words. “Metaphysics” is a very useful book; it prompts a person to think about the essence of human life and about the existence of the world as a whole, but it is difficult to read. To understand it, you need to reread it several times.
As Aristotle said: “All people naturally seek knowledge. ”and he was not mistaken. If you are here, you probably want to learn something new for yourself. We will be happy to give you this opportunity. We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Aristotle: stories from the biography and scientific activities of the philosopher and founder of logic, whose work influenced the worldview of many people.
10. Was a student of Plato, a teacher of Macedonia
Aristotle, learning for 20 years from the great philosopher Plato, all this time treated him with deep respect and even veneration. As a student of the Plato school, Aristotle taught philological discipline - rhetoric, but Plato died (it happened in 347 BC on his birthday), and Aristotle did not stay in the academy, which was headed by another person, so he went to his friend Hermia to the town of Miezu.
Regarding the activities of the teacher, Aristotle began to train the famous commander Alexander of Macedon the principles of the newest (for that time) humanistic philosophy at the invitation of the king of Macedonia, Philip II (father Alexander). Aristotle trained him for 8 years before his accession. Classes were held in a relaxed atmosphere while walking around Mieza.
9. Prefer to conduct classes with students on walks.
Aristotle organized his school near the temple of Apollo Likeysky. He spent his lessons in the portico - he, along with his students, walked in the shade (walks were called "peripaty", which is why his students were called "peripatetics"), and during the walk he talked with them.
Like the teacher, Aristotle's students walked back and forth during a lecture, strolling. Walks were divided into 2 shifts: morning and evening. In the evening there were lectures and discussions on the exoteric program, and in the evening classes were held for a narrow circle of students, who, according to Aristotle, were endowed with a special mind and great desire for knowledge.
8. He became one of the first popularizers of science
Aristotle is the first thinker to create an extensive system of philosophical science. It covered all areas of human development: philosophy, logic, politics, sociology, physics.
One of the first he founded science in its broad sense: for the first time he created a system of nature - physics. The views of Aristotle in many respects had a huge impact on the development of human thoughts. Aristotle was able to cover almost all available (for that time) knowledge.
One of the main teachings of the “first philosophy” is the doctrine of 4 causes: the essence and essence of being, matter and subject, the driving cause and the target cause.
Interesting fact: Aristotle wrote 2 types of works: some of them were intended for a wide range of people (accessible to ordinary people), and others for teachers and students.
7. Founded a new school of philosophy
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle taught at the Academy of Plato for about 20 years. During this time he created such significant works as “Metaphysics”, “On the Soul”, and also created works on logic, rhetoric and physics.
When Plato died, Aristotle, along with Xenocrates, moved to Hermia in Mieza (another student of Plato). There Aristotle organized his first school of philosophy and married his adopted daughter, Hermia. However, after 3 years, his wife died, and Aristotle returned to Macedonia, having received an invitation from Philip II to train Alexander the Great, his son.
The training lasted 8 years, Philip II was killed, so Aristotle took power into his own hands. Returning to Athens, Aristotle created a school of philosophy.
6. The first scholar in history
Scholars are those who have broad knowledge. This can be said about Aristotle - he deservedly bears the title of the first scholar in history. He loved the world in which he lived, and in him there was a thirst for his knowledge. Aristotle sought to penetrate the essence of things and phenomena, so that the future generation could absorb his knowledge.
In addition to philosophical doctrine, Aristotle devoted his time to the study of scientific fields: astronomy, botany, biology, physics. With his friend Theofrast, he even visited the island of Lesbos to study the plants and animals that were common there.
5. Participated in the Olympic Games
Aristotle was famous for having deep knowledge in many fields, ranging from philosophy to biology. By the way, it is very surprising that Aristotle could see in the structure of the leaves that biologists can only see with a microscope.
In addition, he was a participant in sports. Many ancient thinkers took part in the Olympic Games (for example, Socrates, Democritus) - Aristotle is also among the participants and winners..
4. Almost 70% of the works and scientific works were not preserved.
Aristotle was driven by: hard work, a love of knowledge and truth, a desire to rally his students around scientific work - all this was necessary to do in science and philosophy what Aristotle managed to do.
The botanical works of the philosopher were not preserved, according to the data, 70% of his works were lost (that is, most). But of the surviving works, there are very important ones that give an accurate and scientific idea of the whole set of views of Aristotle. Out of 200 of his works, only about 31 are in circulation.
3. Considered the heart, not the brain, as the center of thought
Aristotle suggested that the heart muscle is the main organ of the soul. And the mind represented as the ability of the soul. According to Aristotle, blood and muscles performed the functions of nerves, since in those days there was no neuroscience science.
Unlike Plato (his teacher), the philosopher did not separate the soul from the body, therefore it is quite logical that he considered the heart as the main center of thought. The heart, as he suggested, was the organ responsible for regulating blood flow, and the brain regulated the “heat of the blood."
Aristotle was of the opinion that the heart muscle is responsible for all mental processes and thinking, and the brain plays only an auxiliary role.
2. Claimed that the universe is not infinite
Greek philosopher believed that the universe has a beginning and an end. It is shaped like a ball in shape, and the center of the universe is Earth.
All that exists consists of 4 elements: earth, fire, air and water. The earth, as Aristotle believed, is motionless, and consists of a globe - that is, of land. There is water on this ball - oceans, and after that comes a layer of air. The outer layer is fire, and it reaches the moon.
Aristotle believed that everything has an end and a beginning, and argued that there are potential infinities, but not actual ones.
1. Founder of logic and psychology
Aristotle - not only the founder of logic, but also psychology. If you are interested, we offer you to read the treatise "On the Soul" - one of the most famous works of the philosopher.
Logic, in the form in which we know it, is more or less built on the reasoning of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. And one of his main achievements in this science is 3 logical laws.
Aristotle’s logic, we can say - this is “thinking about thinking”, in short, it studies: the main types of being, connections and their separation, the ways in which the mind, by reasoning, passes from known truth to unknown.