WHAT IS ARISTOTELISM? Aristotelianism is a philosophical tradition that is based on the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle was a student of Plato and is considered one of the greatest thinkers of the Western tradition. He lived from 384-322 BCE and wrote on a wide range of topics, including ethics, politics, metaphysics, and biology.

Aristotelianism is characterized by a focus on the observation of the natural world and the development of empirical knowledge. Aristotle believed that there was a natural order to the universe and that this order could be discovered through observation and reason. He also believed that the purpose of human life was to pursue happiness, which he defined as a state of virtuous activity in accordance with reason.

In ethics, Aristotle developed the idea of the "golden mean" - the idea that the best way to live a virtuous life was to find the middle ground between two extremes. For example, Aristotle believed that courage was the mean between the extremes of cowardice and recklessness.

In politics, Aristotle believed that the best form of government was a constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch acted as a guardian of the common good, and the citizens participated in government through the institutions of the assembly and the law courts. He also believed that it was possible for individuals to be virtuous, even in the absence of the state, and that the state was necessary only to ensure the protection of individual rights and the common good.

Aristotelianism was highly influential in the development of Western philosophy and was the dominant philosophical tradition in the Western world for many centuries. Its influence can still be seen today in fields such as ethics, politics, and epistemology.

In conclusion, Aristotelianism is a philosophical tradition based on the teachings of Aristotle, characterized by a focus on empirical observation and the development of knowledge, a belief in the natural order of the universe, and the pursuit of happiness through virtuous activity.

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