Aritotle: Thoughts and Philosophies

ARISTOTLE

In 384 BC, Nicomachas and Phaestas experienced the birth of their son, Aristotle, in a small town on the north east coast of the peninsula of Chaldice called Stagira. Descendent of a medical family, Aristotle would pursue studies in physical science, biology, psychology, chemistry, zoology, botany, mechanics, mathematics, and many more. You name it, and Aristotle studied it. He was also interested in the search for knowledge. (Aristotle, Barnes PG. 2). A quote of his states- “ the acquisition of wisdom is pleasant; all men feel at home in philosophy and wish to spend time on it, leaving all other things aside.” In this quote Aristotle uses the word Philosophy, not as a means of gathering academic knowledge but as a means to search for all knowledge of the academics, soul, and thought. Aristotle believed that happiness of man involved contemplation and intellectual activity. (Aristotle, Barnes p.2)

Aristotle felt that to fully be a man, one must imitate the gods, or immortalize themselves. This will free one from the restrictions of mortal thought. According to Aristotle man possesses a natural want for knowledge. Immortalizing oneself aides the desire for knowledge and self-realization. Self-realization leads to happiness. We can find similar theories in modern day psychologists like Maslow. In his theory of hierarchy, Maslow places self-actualization as the last achievement before reaching true happiness.

At heart, Aristotle was a teacher. He believed that knowledge and teaching went hand in hand, and regarded teaching as the “proper manifestation of knowledge.” The Lyceum is where Aristotle spent most of his time reading his lecture notes to students anxious for self-realization. He spoke both to the chosen students and the general public. The Lyceum did not in any way resemble a modern university. There was not a set course of learning; rather there was a great obtaining of knowledge that sprang from the depths of Aristotle’s thought and studies. Examinations were not taken, degrees were not awarded, and the education came very cheap it was free. I believe that Aristotle’s strong belief in knowledge as a right of man contributed to all of this. The Lyceum was not a moneymaking, competition oriented learning facility; it was a sanctuary of thought, learning, and exploring the mind and soul. Aristotle would never except payment for his teaching...

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...s a very important aspect of Aristotle’s thought because it dismisses spirituality in part because if everything is physical, then what lies beyond the physical.

In 322 BC, in Chalcis, Euboea, Greece, Aristotle found out what happens after the physical body ceases to function. His student and friend Theophrastus took over his position in the world and continued the legacy of the Lyceum. Although Aristotleianism began its descent in the 3rd century BC, Aristotle is anything but forgotten. His work is still study today and many scientists and psychologists use these beliefs as bases for their own thought. A man schooled in just about every subject, Aristotle’s memory was not lost in the ancient world. He lives on in our own thoughts, and of course, in every library.

Bibliography

1. Aristotle, Jonathan Barnes, Oxford University press 1982

2. Aristotle, Sir David Ross, Jarrolds and Sons LTD 1966(reprint)

3. De Anima, Aristotle translated by William of Moerbeke and St Thomas Aquinas, Kenelm Foster, O.P., M.A., Silvester Humphries O.P., M.A New haven and London Yale University press 1965 (reprint)