Aristotle, born in 384 BC in Stagira, a small town in Ancient Greece, was one of the greatest philosophers and scientists in history. His work has profoundly influenced various fields including philosophy, politics, physics, biology, and ethics.
Aristotle was the son of Nicomachus, who was the personal physician to Amyntas III of Macedon. This connection to the Macedonian court would later play a role in Aristotle's life. After his father's death, Aristotle was sent to Athens at the age of seventeen to study at Plato's Academy, where he remained for nearly twenty years, first as a student and then as a teacher. After Plato's death, Aristotle left Athens and, after several years, was invited by Philip II of Macedon to tutor his son, Alexander the Great.
Aristotle's influence on Western thought cannot be overstated. His works were preserved and commented upon by Islamic philosophers like Avicenna and Averroes, which later influenced Medieval Scholasticism. During the Renaissance, his ideas were rediscovered and integrated into European philosophy, science, and education.