Aristotle
was known as the 'master of those who know'.
A foundational thinker in every field of inquiry,
he is unmatched even by his teacher Plato
for his extraordinary range of mind.
Introducing Aristotle guides the reader through
an explosion of theories, from the establishment
of systematic logic to the earliest rules
of science. Aristotle not only composed the
first theory of aesthetics, but also developed
a rational psychology, a political science
and an outline of sociology, giving us the
virtue theory of ethics that is still debated
today. His contributions to metaphysics -
on being, existence, substance and causality
- continue to permeate modern philosophy.
Certainly, no postmodernist debate is complete
without an understanding of the impact of
his investigations into dialectics and semiotics.
Aristotle's authority extended beyond his
own lifetime to influence fundamentally Islamic
philosophy and medieval scholasticism. For
fifteen centuries he remained the paradigm
of knowledge itself - until 17th-century empiricists
attempted to discredit the 'scientific' nature
of his methods. But can Aristotelian realism
still be used to underpin our conception of
the world today?
***
Rupert
Woodfin was a lecturer in Philosophy. He died
in 2004.
Judy
Groves is a painter, graphic designer and
illustrator. She has illustrated numerous
Introducing titles.
