“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
About
In the sunlit halls of ancient Greece, Aristotle wandered not just through groves but through every question the human mind could pose. Student of Plato, mentor to Alexander, he built a universe out of reason, mapping virtue, purpose, and the essence of life itself. Where others saw mystery, he sought meaning. Through careful observation and boundless curiosity, he shaped the very architecture of knowledge. To Aristotle, the good life was not found in extremes, but in harmony, in becoming who we are meant to be, through thought, character, and steady pursuit of truth.
Place of Birth
Stagira, Macedonia (modern-day Greece)
Birthday
February 26, 384 BCE
Death
322 BCE in Euboea, Greece
Legacy
Aristotle was a philosopher, scientist, and polymath whose work laid the foundation for countless disciplines, from logic and ethics to biology, politics, metaphysics, and rhetoric. A student of Plato and teacher to Alexander the Great, he systematized knowledge in ways that shaped Western education, science, and philosophy for over two millennia.
Influence
Aristotle’s influence is unmatched in its breadth and depth. His works became central to both Islamic and Christian philosophy during the Middle Ages, and his methods of observation and categorization became the backbone of Western science. From Thomas Aquinas to the Enlightenment thinkers, his ideas continued to guide the pursuit of knowledge, reason, and ethical action.
Values & Beliefs
Aristotle believed in living a life of eudaimonia, flourishing through reason, virtue, and balance. He emphasized the “Golden Mean,” where virtue lies between extremes. He believed that purpose, or telos, exists in everything, and that the good life is achieved through thoughtful action, moral character, and lifelong learning.
Most Famous For:
Developing formal logic and syllogistic reasoning
Writing Ethical texts (Nicomachean Ethics), politics, biology, and metaphysics
Teaching Alexander the Great
Establishing the Lyceum (his school in Athens)
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Ethan Townzen 