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The Philosophy of Aristotle
More than two thousand years ago, Aristotle established unique standards of philosophic inquiry, observation, and judgment. This book offers a contemporary reevaluation of the philosophy of the master of Western thought, and shows his vital, continuing influence in our modern world.
501 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 323
124 people are currently reading
1527 people want to read
About the author
Aristotle
4,329 books5,549 followersAristotle (Greek: Αριστοτέλης; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 7, 2014
Copious amounts of bonus points to this book/edition for the afterword. Maybe the greatest afterword of all time.
And as for Aristotle, as if anyone couldn't have guessed this, I enjoyed the Poetics sections most of all...
And as for Aristotle, as if anyone couldn't have guessed this, I enjoyed the Poetics sections most of all...
May 29, 2007
What I understood was quite enlightening.
June 18, 2020
When it comes to Ethics and Politics, Aristotle is one of the best.
January 17, 2023
this book was often difficult to read in that it questioned everything that i believed in. what i found that was of most importance that i read aloud to my grandfather and we spoke of it together. there was something precious about that. it was a beautiful way to finish reading the book. i hope that one day i can one day revisit this book, when i am very old, and much wiser. i did however, treasure every word and sentence that i read. (except for the politics book, particularly on slavery and women’s rights)
but i do love the wisdom that he did have on certain matters, and it humbled me, in that learning is in itself a form of humility.
he also taught me. in the poetics book especially. it taught me as a writer, as a member of an audience, to show my humanity. and to connect with others. is there anything better than that? is there a greater gift?
but i do love the wisdom that he did have on certain matters, and it humbled me, in that learning is in itself a form of humility.
he also taught me. in the poetics book especially. it taught me as a writer, as a member of an audience, to show my humanity. and to connect with others. is there anything better than that? is there a greater gift?
December 11, 2020
The greeks formed the western canon.
September 9, 2024
you know how to ball I know Aristotle <3
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July 10, 2025There is such excellence, dynamism and creativity to Aristotle’s thought that it is completely unsurprising that his work continues to improve thousands of lives annually.
—the afterword is a must-read.
—the afterword is a must-read.
May 16, 2013
Most of this was boring. Posterior analytics was the most tediously unreadable and frustratingly incomprehensible crap I've ever managed to make myself sit through! But there were a handful of moments in which I found myself vaguely enjoying the process of reading. The Ethics was somewhat fun to read; and I greatly enjoy knowing that Plato was more Left wing and Aristotle was more Right wing. Altogether, I'm glad I can say I have this under my belt, but I won't be re-reading this. (Except, perhaps, for the Nicomachean Ethics.)
January 6, 2016
I wish I could have enjoyed more Aristotle's works... Some books like the Ethics and the Methaphysics were great, but others, especially the Posterior Analytics were terribly boring. Probably I should have rated this book higher taking into account the context and the time in which these works were written. I get a feeling Aristotle is much more relevant to science than to philosophy, at least as we accept them today ... However it is thanks to him, in great measure, that the sciences are now different from philosophy, and in my opinion, here lies his relevance.
October 2, 2020
A conveniently sized reference book that I carried around for a while. I just wish it was narrowed down to Ethics, Politics, and The Metaphysics with each section expanded; As it exists, it’s not the best collection and barely worth the buy.
August 29, 2024
Easily became one of the greatest thoughtful and logical reads on my bookshelves so far this year. Bambrough classics and contemporary writings of Aristotle may be relevant to complications during most passages at time, becoming the most challenging and mind-blowing reads to me, from ethics, logics and specifically politics, to which I earned most valuable knowledge and philosophies from.
A must-read for anyone who seeks new challenges — whether that's the contexts itself, or the writing tones — and anyone who's a politics-lover like me. It's my longest read to interpret every passage detailedly, but it's definitely very worth it!
A must-read for anyone who seeks new challenges — whether that's the contexts itself, or the writing tones — and anyone who's a politics-lover like me. It's my longest read to interpret every passage detailedly, but it's definitely very worth it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2017
Aristotle's talents showed both depth and variety. As a scientist he was endlessly scrupulous, always grounding his work in observation to a much greater extent than Plato had. Plato's idealism culminated in his Theory of Forms, which Aristotle flatly rejected as empty language, for he preferred to deal with the material world. Beyond the skill of observation, he was also armed with keen insight, able to detect patterns and draw conclusions with discernment.
March 17, 2021
Finally.
A comprehensive, compact anthology of the work of the most reasonable and great (our) master and father blesses be bestowed on him. It's always so pleasurable and tedious to read such reasoned, clear language.
The edition is great and comprehensive in introductions for those unfamiliar with what's what.
A comprehensive, compact anthology of the work of the most reasonable and great (our) master and father blesses be bestowed on him. It's always so pleasurable and tedious to read such reasoned, clear language.
The edition is great and comprehensive in introductions for those unfamiliar with what's what.
May 9, 2025
Aristotle’s philosophy is dense, annoyingly precise and yet wonderful.
I think after having this book in my shelf for over a year I realize it’s not a cover to cover read necessarily. It is something I want to keep coming back to and rereading here and there.
I did not complete all of it - but most. I hope to keep coming back to his philosophy.
I think after having this book in my shelf for over a year I realize it’s not a cover to cover read necessarily. It is something I want to keep coming back to and rereading here and there.
I did not complete all of it - but most. I hope to keep coming back to his philosophy.
March 25, 2020
I read his Categories, On Interpretation, Ethics, Politics, and a bit of Physics. The works on Logic were quite difficult and convoluted, and Physics I was too lazy to continue. However, I really enjoyed reading Ethics and Politics to the point that it really struck my worldview. The translation is not terrible at all, it's really just how Aristotle expressed his ideas that's intricate. I might want to finally read Metaphysics later, since it really is the meat of Aristotle's philosophy, but not now.
October 2, 2023
My first philosophy book ever.
January 4, 2025
Aristotle’s ethics guide my character
February 19, 2025
The most authentic good is the objective of the most authentic of all partnership.
September 13, 2025
Very dense with content from the Mind of Aristotle. Used it as a textbook. Very easy to read and learn from. Worth a read if you need an introduction to aristotle
October 27, 2020
I read this for Peter Maxwell's course on ancient philosophy at Loyola University Chicago during the second semester of 1980/1. Actually, it was a course on ancient Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Aristotle.
As I had read some Aristotle previously, I only read the introductions and those texts not previously studied.
As I had read some Aristotle previously, I only read the introductions and those texts not previously studied.
July 9, 2016
The teachings of Aristotle served as a foundation to European thought in the Middle Ages and is still relevant today. I first read his works as a young Marine sergeant on my way to Vietnam and it impressed me. His thoughts on metaphysics, logic, physics, psychology, politics, and poetry are still thought provoking today and well worth reading.
January 24, 2017
Aristotle's view on Psychology was my main emphasis on reading this book. Best way to read Aristotle's work is to break it down piece by piece. He goes into deep, logical thinking.
April 15, 2017
Aristotle's works suffer from being, apparently, personal work-notes of the author—therefore in many cases it can be fairly accused of being more boring than they should. However, the immense mental capacity of Aristotle is astounding particularly for his equal ability of remaining grounded on Earth, as against his teacher.
I would have given this book five stars if it was only about its author, but it is more of a collection of passages, and in that, it suffers. There are a few more passages, books, and chapters that should have been included, particularly in Ethics. Moreover, while the introductions to each of Aristotle's works are on point, I cannot imagine why the editor would not include annotations, which would have helped a great deal.
I would have given this book five stars if it was only about its author, but it is more of a collection of passages, and in that, it suffers. There are a few more passages, books, and chapters that should have been included, particularly in Ethics. Moreover, while the introductions to each of Aristotle's works are on point, I cannot imagine why the editor would not include annotations, which would have helped a great deal.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews