ARISTOTLE

There is in Athens a rather plain ruin: a simple courtyard lined with fragments of wall. Yet, this little patch of land has a claim to be the most significant place in human history. It is the Lyceum, site of Aristotles school: here the philosopher wandered, discussing his lifes work with students, proposing answers to the mysteries of the human condition. Today, it can be difficult to fully comprehend the staggering influence of these lessons. Aristotles observations about the world around him and his reflections on the nature of knowledge laid the foundations for all empirical science. His study of rational thought formed the basis of formal logic, the cornerstone of philosophical investigation. His examination of Greek city-states gave us political science, while his analysis of drama remains a mainstay of literature courses around the world. In lucid prose, acclaimed philosopher John Sellars takes us on a journey through Aristotles thought, vividly bringing to life the key ideas, and demonstrating that the famous philosophers capacity for curiosity continues to offer us all a vision of more fulfilled lives. Aristotle has lessons still to teach.