The philosopher, Aristotle

Essay by joe rinzelUniversity, Bachelor'sA-, April 1995

download word file, 4 pages 3.7

Downloaded 223 times

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. 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.'(Collins p.

11) 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...