ARISTOTLE

(384-322) B.C.), one of the greatest thinkers of history; Stagira, Macedonia, whence known as the Stagirite. Losing both parents while still young, Aristotle came to Athens, where he joined Plato’s school; remained in Athens twenty years; on death of where he married Pytheas, the adopted daughter of Prince Hermias. In 342 Aristotle became tutor to Alexander, afterwards the famous general. Returning, in 335 B.C., to Athens, he taught philosophy in the walks of the Lyceum (whence the name Peripatetics given — to his followers); accused of impiety, — he withdrew to Chalcis in Eubosa, where he died in the following year. The writings of Aristotle, which are almost wholly the MSS. of lectures posthumously edited by pupils, deal with almost all the branches of knowledge known to his age, and give a sketch of a complete system of the sciences. These are cla ed as theoretical (logic, metaphysics, and physics), practical (ethics economics, politics), and productive (rhetoric and poetry.)