Aristotle Plato Essay

Aristotle was born on 384 BC in Stageira, Chalcidice 34 miles east of modern-day Thessaloniki. His father Nicomachus was the personal physician to King Amyntas of Macedon. Aristotle educated as a member of aristocracy and at the age of eighteen, he went to Athens to do his further studies in Plato’s Academy. He was there at the beginning as a student of Plato, and then became a researcher and finally a teacher. Aristotle married Hermias’s niece Pythias who died ten years later. After her death he married Herpyllis, who came from his birthplace, Stageira. By 335 BC he had returned to Athens, establishing his own school in there known as the Lyceum. This Academy focused more on biology than its predecessor that relied on mathematics. Aristotle not only studied almost every subject possible at the time, but made significant contributions to most of them. In physical science, Aristotle studied anatomy, astronomy, embryology, geography, geology, meteorology, physics and zoology. In philosophy, he wrote on aesthetics, ethics, government, metaphysics, politics, economics, psychology, rhetoric and theology. He also studied education, foreign customs, literature and poetry. His combined works constitute a virtual encyclopedia of Greek knowledge. It has been suggested that Aristotle was probably the last person to know everything there was to be known in his own time. He greatly admired Plato all the way to his death, despite the fact that he later opposed some of his most important points. Aristotle died in 322 BC at the age of sixty-two in Chalkis on the island of Euboea. He also said many sayings regarded to different topics or fields like other Philosophers. Once a person asked that â€Å"what is friend? † Aristotle answered as follows. â€Å"A single soul dwelling in Two Bodies†. Like other Philosophers, Aristotle too talked about friendship and the above quote is such one. When we talk about the friendship, it is a kind of internal bonding among two or more beings. Most of the time, this bonding does not depend on one’s caste, gender, age, occupation, wealth or any other. That is why even very best friend’s needs show a little difference from each other because our bodies are external and physical. The most valuable thing for a human life is the friendship because it is very difficult to live alone. Even the present Psychologists accept that concept. If we go deep into this particular relationship, this can be a good one or a bad one as this depends on their intentions and thoughts. Actually the friendship is a backup for a one’s life, when our self is down with a problem or sadness, our friend is the first person who identifies our situation. He/She may not be able to find a solution for us, but surely he/she will be there to cry with us. That is how best friends act at all. They never let the other down. One’s sadness will be the other’s sadness. That is why Aristotle clearly said that one sole dwelling in two bodies. Friendship will gives the same feeling for all the friends even that is a comedy, tragedy or a joy because friends are one in their souls. Friendship is not only within two persons but within a group of them. Education is the guider to a one’s life. Aristotle said that, â€Å"The roots of the education is bitter, but the fruit is sweet†. Education is received according to a specific order. That is why we can categorize it into primary education, secondary and higher education. Primary education or the very basic education is the important stage for a person because from that only he starts to think logically and effectively. Then only he can have a clear mind about his/her future. If the primary education is not strong, final result will be not a satisfactory one. If the root system is not well developed the tree will not be a good one. But the thing is our basic education is not a sweet one because there are many difficulties and hardships to undergo. Aristotle tried to tell that when we start something we must not judge its conditions from that point, we must think beyond that which means about its future. Because the fruit is our future. Although a tree is fully grown, it never is able to obtain nutrients and water from its top part. From root system only it will get those necessary nutrients. Likewise every new updating knowledge will come through our basic knowledge, if not we won’t be able to understand those. We must remember that there must be difficulties and unpleasant points in our life to make our future a brighter and comfortable one like the great Philosopher, Aristotle.