Aristotle (384–322 BCE)

Question 1

Where was Aristotle born?

Answer 1

Stagira, a small town in northern Greece.

Question 2

Who was Aristotle’s teacher at Plato’s Academy?

Answer 2

Plato.

Question 3

At what age did Aristotle join Plato’s Academy?

Answer 3

17.

Question 4

Who did Aristotle tutor in 343 BCE?

Answer 4

Alexander the Great.

Question 5

What was the name of the school Aristotle founded?

Answer 5

The Lyceum.

Question 6

What are Aristotle’s main contributions to logic?

Answer 6

He developed formal logic, including the concept of syllogism.

Question 7

Which of Aristotle’s works deals with political philosophy?

Answer 7

Politics.

Question 8

What is Aristotle’s key concept in ethics?

Answer 8

The Golden Mean – finding the virtue between extremes of behavior.

Question 9

Which era of Greek history did Aristotle live in?

Answer 9

The Classical Greek era (5th–4th century BCE).

Question 10

How did Aristotle’s method of studying the natural world differ from Plato’s?

Answer 10

Aristotle focused on empirical observation and believed in the reality of the physical world, while Plato emphasized ideal forms.

Question 11

What did Aristotle’s empirical research focus on?

Answer 11

Biology and the classification of animals.

Question 12

Which branch of philosophy did Aristotle contribute to by laying the groundwork for deductive reasoning?

Answer 12

Logic.

Question 13

What was Aristotle’s famous quote about political animals?

Answer 13

Humans are ‘political animals.’

Question 14

What was the reason for Aristotle’s departure from Athens near the end of his life?

Answer 14

He fled due to anti-Macedonian sentiment and accusations of impiety.

Question 15

What was Aristotle’s relation to Alexander the Great?

Answer 15

He was Alexander the Great’s tutor.

Question 16

What are some of Aristotle’s works that have had a long-lasting influence?

Answer 16

Nicomachean Ethics and Politics.

Question 17

What was one of Aristotle’s contributions to biology?

Answer 17

He classified animals and conducted extensive studies, particularly in marine biology.

Question 18

What was the major disagreement between Aristotle and Plato?

Answer 18

Aristotle believed in the empirical study of the physical world, while Plato believed in ideal forms.

Question 19

What kind of animals did Aristotle extensively study in marine biology?

Answer 19

Sea creatures like octopuses and sharks.

Question 20

What was Aristotle’s erroneous belief about the reproduction of eels?

Answer 20

He thought eels were born from earthworms in mud.

Question 21

Why is Aristotle remembered as one of the first systematic observers of nature?

Answer 21

He emphasized empirical observation and classified plants and animals systematically.

Question 22

Which of Aristotle’s ideas in biology is now outdated but groundbreaking for his time?

Answer 22

The idea of spontaneous generation (life arising from non-living matter).

Question 23

What was Aristotle’s humorous belief about flies?

Answer 23

He believed flies could emerge from rotting meat.

Question 24

Why did Aristotle not face trial in Athens?

Answer 24

He fled to avoid prosecution for impiety, saying he didn’t want Athens to ‘sin twice against philosophy.’

Question 25

How did Aristotle describe humans in terms of their natural behavior?

Answer 25

He described humans as ‘rational animals’ and ‘political animals.’

Question 26

What was Aristotle’s major contribution to ethics?

Answer 26

The concept of the Golden Mean.