Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher who, like his legendary teacher Plato, is considered one of the most significant figures in the history of Western philosophy. Throughout his life, he transformed most of the subjects he investigated, writing as many as 200 treatises (of which only 31 survive) on subjects ranging from logic, politics, and ethics to biology, mathematics, and science. metaphysics.
It was largely from Aristotle’s works that the West inherited his entire intellectual approach, including the problems he investigates and his research methods. Consequently, like Plato, Aristotle has a unique influence on almost all forms of knowledge in the West, and his writings continue to be a topic of contemporary debate today.
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born in the year 384 a. c. In northern Greece, Aristotle joined Plato’s Academy in Athens when he was about 17 years old, quickly becoming Plato’s most brilliant student. He studied with Plato until the latter’s death 20 years later, after which Aristotle left Athens and became tutor to a young Alexander the Great.
Aristotle later returned to Athens and founded his own school at the Lyceum. the school and students of his acquired the label of ‘peripatetic’ (from the Greek, ‘to walk’), due to Aristotle’s custom of walking around the grove while he gave his lectures.
It is believed that Aristotle’s surviving works were never intended for the general public: they are lecture notes for his advanced philosophical students. As such, Aristotle is reputed to be a rather dense and difficult writer. This is perhaps a bit unfair, as in his lifetime Aristotle produced a number of popular dialogues, like Plato, which were famous for their beauty. Indeed, the Roman statesman Cicero speaks of the “river of gold” in Aristotle’s prose. Unfortunately, none of these popular works survive, and only Aristotle’s technical notes remain.
However, the influence of these “tech notes” is hard to overstate. Aristotle’s physics was not superseded until the Enlightenment, some of his biological insights still astound modern zoologists and researchers, and his ethics remain a rich source for contemporary scholarship and debate to this day. He was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as “the first teacher”, known to medieval Christians as Thomas Aquinas simply as “the philosopher”, while the poet Dante called him “the teacher of those who know”.
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This reading list outlines the best books by and about Aristotle. After reading it, you will have a complete understanding of exactly why Aristotle’s work has had, and still has, such an influence on Western thought. let’s dive!
1. aristotle’s way, by edith hall
Published in 2018, Edith Hall’s Aristotle’s Way is a fantastic starting point for anyone interested in Aristotle’s view of how we should approach life. “If you believe that the goal of human life is to maximize happiness,” Hall writes, “then you are a budding Aristotelian.” With a focus on Aristotle’s ethics, Hall places his thinking in modern situations and contexts, deriving ten practical lessons to help us meet life’s challenges. Written with a popular audience in mind, this is a very accessible entry point into Aristotle’s ethical thought.
2. aristotle: the desire to understand, by jonathon lear
If you’re looking for a more philosophical introduction to the larger catalog of Aristotle, look no further than Jonathon Lear’s Aristotle: The Desire to Understand. Lear examines the central ideas of Aristotle’s physics, metaphysics, ethics, and politics, as well as biological and logical works in clear, lucid prose. With its 340 insightful pages, this book is an excellent companion for those seeking a deeper understanding of Aristotle’s thought.
3. aristotle’s cambridge companion, by jonathon barnes
If you want to delve further into your studies of Aristotle, The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle, edited by Jonathon Barnes, brings together nine brilliant essays by leading scholars on Aristotle that examine various aspects of his thought. With chapters on Aristotle’s logic, metaphysics, philosophy of science, psychology, ethics, rhetoric, and poetics, Aristotle’s Cambridge Companion belongs on the bookshelf of any serious student of Aristotle.
4. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
Going from the introductions to the primary texts, what better place to start than with a tome commonly heralded as the best entry point for those wanting to read Aristotle? In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle’s guiding question is: what is best for a human being? his answer is eudaimonia, which is variously translated from the Greek as ‘well-being’, ‘happiness’, ‘bliss’, and in the context of virtue ethics endorsed by Aristotle,’ human flourishing. Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s exploration of how we can achieve eudaimonia by living well. is an essential text for anyone interested in the foundations and development of ethical thought in Western society.
5. politics, by aristotle
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One of the most influential texts in the history of political thought, Aristotle’s Politics raises questions about how society should be organized and governed that continue to be debated today. By examining how different groups operate, Aristotle seeks to establish the best way to establish and maintain constitutions. this particular edition also includes a helpful introductory essay that contextualizes the work and sets the stage for the reader.
6. physics, by aristotle
Until the Enlightenment, Aristotle’s physics was the starting point for anyone who wanted to study the natural sciences. Reading physics today, one becomes deeply comfortable with the genius of Aristotle’s thought and understands why this work held its place at the heart of intellectual institutions for millennia. like the policy, this particular edition includes a very helpful introduction.
7. metaphysics, from aristotle
Aristotle’s metaphysics is considered one of the greatest philosophical works of all time. At the heart of the book are three questions. First of all, what is existence and what kind of things exist in the world? second, how can things continue to exist and yet experience the change we see around us in the natural world? And finally, how can this world be understood? Aristotle’s fascinating answers to these questions set in motion two millennia of debate among thinkers around the world, making metaphysics an essential addition.
8. poetics, of aristotle
One of the most influential and insightful books on poetry, drama, fiction, and art ever written, Aristotle’s Poetics is the founding text of European aesthetics and literary criticism. Brimming with ideas on topics such as the nature of tragedy and plot, this work more than any other has shaped our modern understanding of the making and impact of art. Poetics belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in Aristotle, beauty or aesthetics, and literary criticism in general.
further reading
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