Aristotle

Aristotle was one of the greatest scientists and philosophers that ever lived. He had an interesting life, including a famous pupil, as well as a well-known tutor. Aristotle accomplished many unusual things, such as becoming the head of his own school and writing several books. Finally, he made quite a few contributions to science, such as the elements, and animal kingdom, and the theory of the universe.

Aristotle had an interesting life. He was born in 384 BC, in Stagira, Greece. He had a brother, a sister, and a mother, Phaestis. His father, Nicomachus, was a successful doctor who taught Aristotle medicine. However, when he was ten years old, both of his parents died, leaving Proxenus, a family relative, to take care of him. Together, they went to live in Athens, where Aristotle not only had the opportunity to study, but also to learn and grow in the presence of other great minds. There, Plato, a pupil of the great philosopher Socrates, taught Aristotle. Aristotle studied physics, zoology, botany, chemistry, science, and philosophy. Aristotle grew up to be a man that the historian Diogenes Laertius described as "speaking with a lisp, with slender calves, small eyes, and was conspicuous by his attire, his rings, and by the cut of his hair." Later, Aristotle taught Alexander the Great. However, after this famous conqueror's death, Aristotle was driven out of Athens, so he fled to an island in the Aegan Sea. There, he had his own family. He married Pythias and had a daughter named after her. However, Pythias died ten years later, so he married Herphyllis, and they had a son named after Aristotle's father, Nicomachus.

Aristotle accomplished many unusual things. He contributed to today's idea of art, literature, ethics, and theology. He taught at the Academy. Later, he was the head of his own school. And even had a museum to display the many plant and animal specimens he collected. In addition, Aristotle wrote two books: one called Metaphysics, and a lengthy volume on politics. Also, he understood things that others did not. For example, he understood that the importance of natural groups depended on characteristics. He also realized that mathematics and physics weren't the same: while mathematics was an abstract science dealing with numbers and shapes, physics was a study of how the world worked.

Aristotle made countless contributions to science. One of his most well-known contributions was the elements: Aristotle said that all matter is made of four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. He pictured the universe as a series of clear balls, with Earth in the middle. The sun and planets were each attached to their own ball