Aristotle: Difference between revisions

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After the death of Plato ([[346 BCE]]), Aristotle went with Xenocrates to the court of Hermias, ruler of Atarneus in [[Asia Minor]], and married his niece and adopted daughter, Pythia. In [[344 BCE]], Hermias was murdered in a rebellion, and Aristotle went with his family to [[Mytilene]]. Then, one or two years later, he was summoned to his native Stageira by King [[Philip II of Macedon]] to become the tutor of [[Alexander the Great]], who was then 13.

[[Plutarch]] wrote that Aristotle not only imparted to Alexander a knowledge of ethics and politics, but also of the most profound secrets of philosophy. We have much proof that Alexander profited by contact with the philosopher, and that Aristotle made prudent and beneficial use of his influence over the young prince (although [[Bertrand Russell]] disputes this). Due to this influence, Alexander provided Aristotle with ample means for the acquisition of books and the pursuit of his scientific investigation, and it is quite likely that Alexander the Great's renowned military ability can be traced, at least in part, to his relationship with Aristotle.

According to sources such as Plutarch and [[Diogenes]], Philip had Aristotle's hometown of Stageira burned during the 340's BCE, and Aristotle successfully requested that Alexander rebuild it.