When Alexander died in 323 B.C., Aristotle wisely retreated
to the pro- Macedonian base of Chalcis. He was reportedly trying
to save the Athenians from sinning twice against philosophy (the
first sin being the execution of Socrates). He died there in 322
of a disease of the digestive organs. Following Socrates and Plato,
Aristotle had a great wealth of knowledge and wisdom to build upon,
but he left no successor who could surpass him. His work changed
the direction of Western learning and continues to play a very
real part in modern studies. His work in the sciences would inevitably
become obsolete, particular in natural philosophy. But his contributions
to biology would remain unsurpassed for centuries. On the other
hand, his work in the humanities and social sciences continues
to provide the basis for debate and guide academic learning. Moreover,
he essentially created the field of logic and devised the syllogism.
The one major subject that he did not seem to have a large impact
on was mathematics, on which the Academy generally led the way.
Aristotle's talents showed both depth and variety. As
a scientist he was endlessly scrupulous, always grounding his work
in observation to a much greater extent than Plato had. Plato's
idealism culminated in his Theory of Forms, which Aristotle flatly
rejected as empty language, for he preferred to deal with the material
world. Beyond the skill of observation, he was also armed with keen
insight, able to detect patterns and draw conclusions with discernment.
What drove Aristotle was a desire for wisdom, knowledge
for its own sake. He sought what philosophers and scientists are
still seeking today: the fundamental principles that govern humanity
and its universe. The pursuit has changed in many ways, particularly
with specialization. No one today could have the all- encompassing
jurisdiction that Aristotle did, but even for his time, his success
was remarkable. More than any single figure in Western history,
Aristotle was the embodiment of knowledge and learning. His works
continue to provoke, inspire, and inform.
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