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Anagnostopoulos, Georgios. (2009) Aristotle's Life. In Anagnostopoulos (Ed.) (2009), 3-13.

Title Aristotle's Life
Resource Type collection article
Author(s) Georgios Anagnostopoulos
Year 2009
Collection Anagnostopoulos (Ed.) (2009)
Pages 3-13

Abstract

To many, Aristotle is the last great fi gure in the distinguished philosophical tradition of Greece that is thought to begin with Thales (ca. 600 BCE). Of course, Greek philosophy did not end with Aristotle; it continued for several centuries in the various schools – those of the Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics as well as Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s own Peripatetic School – that fl ourished in Athens and elsewhere up to the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire. Yet there is considerable truth in the opinion of the many, if viewed as a claim about great individual fi gures in the Greek philosophical tradition. For Aristotle was the last great individual philosopher of ancient times, one of the three thinkers – the others being Socrates (470–399 BCE) and Plato (427–347 BCE) – that comprise what many consider to be the greatest philosophical trio of all time. Their philosophical careers span more than a hundred years, and all three were major fi gures in the lively philosophical scene of fi fth- and fourth-century Athens. It was a unique moment in the history of philosophy, one that saw Socrates engaging in discussions with Plato – by far the most distinguished of his followers – and Plato instructing and debating with Aristotle – by far the most eminent student to graduate from and do research in his own school, the Academy.