Aristotle was a famous Greek philosopher, scientist, and educator born in Macedonia in 384 BCE. He was an adept student at Plato’s Academy, where Plato often referred to him as the “intellect” of the school. Many of his theories can be seen as drawn from Plato’s teaching, but he was more practical than Plato in many respects. Aristotle concerned himself more with how philosophy applied to subjects like writing, the arts, science, and logic.

Aristotle’s father was a court physician, who died when Aristotle was about ten years old. His mother’s death preceded his fathers’ but is not dated. Historians believe that Aristotle's father would have taught him early on about biology, science and medicine, which would form the basis for some of his later works.

His uncle Proxenus, who was a teacher of rhetoric and writing, cared for Aristotle. Since Aristotle was born in Macedonia, he did not speak formal Greek. As a result, Proxenus helped Aristotle learn formal Greek as well as writing and rhetoric, all of which helped prepare Aristotle for his later success in Athens.

At 18, Aristotle joined Plato’s Academy first as a student and later a teacher. He would remain there for the next 19 years, and was thought to be the first pick for running the Academy upon Plato’s death. However, Plato’s nephew received the job, and Aristotle traveled for a time and became tutor to Alexander the Great.

When Alexander became king of Macedonia, Aristotle returned to Athens and opened his school, The Lyceum, which remained open from 335-321. When Alexander became unpopular and despised by the Athenians, Aristotle’s association with him made living in Athens dangerous, and Aristotle was charged with impiety, like Socrates had been charged before him. Instead of standing trial, Aristotle fled to the country, dying the next year of a stomach disorder in 322.

One of Aristotle’s main contributions to philosophy was his work up of logic, upon which he wrote six texts, called together The Organon. Though much of Aristotle's work was lost for a time, Organon was not. Through these texts Aristotle explored the nature of the syllogism, the way in which logic must proceed to avoid fallacies, and the nature of writing “commonplaces,” which can be adapted for the moral use of rhetoric. Throughout this, and all his other works, one sees that Aristotle loved classification and definition. When words did not previously exist for a logical phenomena, Aristotle made them up, as he did with the word "syllogism."

Aristotle’s theories on science are not very helpful to most scientists. He advocated science through reason rather than observation. He did, however, develop the scientific method that is still used in scientific inquiry today. But his actual statements about scientific topics are often untrue. As the great classifier, however, he was responsible for developing the classification system of plants and animals which still exists today.

In his work on metaphysics, Aristotle attempted to define the causes for existence of each thing that could be observed. Again, he did his investigation through reason, rather than observation. He defined several sets of causes, and further explored the physical make-up of the universe as being a mix of several forms of matter, like water and fire.

In ethics, Aristotle’s best-known work is the Niomachean Ethics which treats on the ways people can be virtuous. Aristotle believed that a person could not simply study what is good, but must also be good by performing virtuous deeds. In great length he classifies what constitutes virtue, how each virtue compares to other virtues, and what steps one must take to be virtuous.

Aristotle later became the focus of serious study by both Jewish and Arabic philosophers in the 6th century CE. Early travelers to Arabic countries “discovered” the work of Aristotle, and many of his theories form the basis for medieval thought and philosophy.

Aristotle’s Poetics prescribe a method for creative writing, particularly plays, which would be followed through the Renaissance. Comedy contained certain elements, as did tragedy. Tragedy was lofty, comedy base. To deviate from these proscribed methods was to produce lesser quality work.

Aristotle’s work continued to influence various disciplines throughout the 19th century. However, his deliberate classification annoyed modernist writers, and scientists. He has become of lesser importance as the years have passed even though his work is essential to understanding the classical and medieval mindset.