e, by-then known as an influential philosopher, completing his designated tutorship (to Alexander), returned to Athens and established his own school – the Lyceum. In the following twelve years, he probably composed the majority of his 200 works (of which only 31 survive), while also playing an active role in teaching at his own school. Pertaining to the latter, it was common knowledge among the students at the establishment that Aristotle had the habit of walking about as he discoursed – known as peripatetikos (or peripatetics). During the period, after the death of his official wife Pythias, Aristotle also fathered a son named Nicomachus, from a relationship with his mistress (or slave) Herpyllis of Stagira.
Interestingly enough, towards of the end of Alexander’s short life, the Macedonian conqueror was estranged from his erstwhile teacher Aristotle, possibly because of the former’s inclusive policies entailing both the Persians and other Greeks. But in spite of the souring of their rapport, many notable Athenians, like Eurymedon (one of the overseers of the Eleusinian Mysteries), rebelliously denounced Aristotle on the basis of his ‘impiety’ and ties with the Macedonian aristocracy. Consequently, a year after Alexander’s death, in circa 322 BC, he was forced to flee to his mother’s family estate in Chalcis, on Euboea. On reaching the haven, Aristotle famously proclaimed – “I will not allow the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy”, which refers to the earlier execution of Socrates in Athens due to his controversial views. Later on, in the very same year, Aristotle breathed his last, probably dying from natural causes (or digestion problems) at the age of 62.
5) Earliest Proponent of Formal Logic –
Aristotle’s works on ‘logic’ are compiled into six books collectively known as the Organon (many of which were modified and edited later by his students and other ancient Greek lecturers), and Prior Analytics, as one of them, is often regarded as the earliest known study of formal logic. Quite intriguingly, Aristotle himself probably labeled the work as ‘analytics’, while his perception of ‘logic’ was conflated to dialectics.
In any case, his logical works are based on the premise that ideas and notions, when isolated, do not account for either truth or falsehood. But when put in context, which alludes to the core of Aristotle’s logic known as the syllogism, it provides a strong basis for complex (and righteous) discourse and even arguments. One classic example of a syllogistic form is as follows – “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”
6) The ‘Metaphysics’ –
‘Metaphysics’ as a term was probably coined by later editors of 1st century AD, who compiled the various theoretical works of Aristotle that the original creator termed as first philosophy. The term possibly alludes to how its scope went beyond the physical studies conducted by Aristotle. As for its focus, Aristotle talks about the nature of existence when perceived from a fundamental level (i.e., the ‘true substance’), as opposed to existence defined by physical characteristics (like a triangle existing because of its angular lines).
Consequently, he examines substance (ousia) and concludes how it is the composite of both matter and form. The difference between the matter and form lies fundamentally in how matter entails the materials or ingredients of the substance, while form exemplifies the final outcome or representation of the substance – brought on by ‘causes’ (aitia) or explanations. The following paragraph from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides an example –
Take, for example, a bronze statue. Its material cause is the bronze itself. Its efficient cause is the sculptor, insofar has he forces the bronze into shape. The formal cause is the idea of the completed statue. The final cause is the idea of the statue as it prompts the sculptor to act on the bronze. The final cause tends to be the same as the formal cause, and both of these can be subsumed by the efficient cause. Of the four, it is the formal and final 