Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist.  Born in northern Greece in 384 B.C., he studied under Plato in his Academy for a number of years.  Aristotle then went on to found his own school, the Lyceum, which spent much time on the detailed study of nature.  Aristotle's philosophy is systematic and categorical.  He constantly analyzed his own conclusions which enabled him to form acute arguements.  His works cover a variety of topics such as logic, physics, psychology, natural history, and ethics (to name a few).  He studied the movements and gait of animals and believed that  movement itself is eternal.  He spoke of the soul as the form of the body  which cannot exist separately from it.  And he wrote several works on  ethics, and understood virtues as existing in moral and intellectual forms. Overall, Aristotle was one of the most influential philosophers of western tradition, and many of our current beliefs stem from the foundation he laid years ago.

1.)  Bjorn's Guide to Philosophy   (http://knuten.liu.se/~bjoch509/philosophers/ari.html)
An excellent introduction to Aristotle, this page presents a biography of his life, discussion lists and papers on him,  and works by him, which are conveniently separated by topic.  In one of the works included, Physics, Aristotle argues that movement is eternal and there can be no first or last movement.

2.)  Encarta   (http://encarta.msn.com/find/default.asp)
By typing Aristotle in the search box, an encyclopedia article will be drawn up which provides a lengthy overview of his life and works.

3.)  Safe Haven   (http://www.ultranet.com/~rsarkiss/ARISTOT.HTM)
This site discusses Aristotle's categorical philosophy by touching on the divisions he imposes on (1) everything that exists, (2) the causes of material existence, and (3) scientific studies.  A brief overview is given on a few of his works and the ideas presented in them.

4.)  Aristotle  (http://www.connect.net/ron/aristotle.html)
Aristotle's notion of causality and its importance in the understanding of matter is explained.  In addition, summaries are given on several of Aristotle's doctrines, including physics, biology, psychology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, and influence.

5.) The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy   (http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/a/aristotl.htm)
The life and writings of Aristotle are discussed, and an in-depth discussion is presented concerning Aristotle's approach to Logic, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Nature, Soul and Psychology, Ethics, Politics, and Art.

6.)  The text of Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics   (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/text?lookup=aristot.+eud.+eth.+1214a)
This text begins with the discussion of the question of happiness and the way in which it is achieved.

7.)  The text of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics   (http://eserver.org/philosophy/aristotle/nicomachean-ethics.txt)
This work is the one in which Aristotle delineates between moral and intellectual virtues.  Moral virtues being acquired by practice, and intellectual virtues consisting of practical and theoretical wisdom.

8.)  The text of De Anima (On the Soul)  (http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/texts/aristotle.soul.html)
The soul is defined by Aristotle as the perfect expression or realization of the natural body.  It is the substance in which bodily conditions gain their real meaning.

9.)  The text of On the Motion of Animals   (http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/motion_animals.html)
Here, Aristotle applies the concept of eternal movement to the practical example of animals moving and investigates the implications this theory has in this realm.

10.)  Philosophy Quick Guide No. 5: Aristotle's Practical Works  (http://www.usc.edu/isd/locations/doheny/philosophy/Guides/aristotle_practical.html)
Presented here is a lengthy list of works by varying authors which can help provide a clearer understanding of Aristotle's philosophy as a whole, and as it relates to the topics of Ethics, Politics, and Rhetoric and Poetics.  In addition, web sites are listed where one can find additional works of Aristotle on-line.
 

Return to class readings page:  Kinesiology 493: Philosophy of Kinesiology