Aristotle: The Philosopher Who Always Had a Lot to Say

Aristotle, born in 384 BC in Stagira, Greece, was a philosopher who had more opinions than he knew what to do with. Known for his prolific writing and deep thinking, he spent his life contemplating the mysteries of the universe – and occasionally mouthing off to anyone who would listen.

Aristotle was a student of Plato, which is ironic considering how often he liked to disagree with his mentor. He believed that the physical world was just as important as the ideal world of the Forms, and he wasn’t afraid to say so. He also thought that women were inferior to men, which, as you can imagine, went over great with the ladies.

Despite his sometimes controversial views, Aristotle was a popular teacher and mentor to many young philosophers. He founded his own school in Athens, called the Lyceum, where he held court with his loyal students. They would often wander around the city, discussing philosophy and pontificating about the nature of reality – and probably getting kicked out of more than a few taverns.

One of Aristotle’s most famous works is the Nicomachean Ethics, in which he outlines his ideas about what makes a good life. According to Aristotle, happiness is the ultimate goal of human existence, and it’s achieved through a balance of virtues like courage, wisdom, and temperance. He also recommended avoiding excess, which is why he probably would have disapproved of his own excessive drinking.

Aristotle died in 322 BC, but his legacy lived on through his writings and the many, many debates he sparked during his lifetime. He was a philosopher who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, even if it meant offending his colleagues (or entire genders). And for that, we’ll always think of him with a mix of admiration and amusement. Because let’s face it – who doesn’t love a philosopher who can take a joke?