Aristotle: From Logic to Life — Season 1, Episode 1: Aristotle's Life
Documentary, Talk • 68 min • 1 season, 8 episodes
Episode synopsis
In our introductory lecture, we examine Aristotle’s foundational role in Western philosophy, exploring his life, historical context, and wide-ranging contributions to logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and literary theory. We trace his twenty years studying under Plato at the Academy, his work as tutor to Alexander the Great, and his founding of the Lyceum, where his empirical approach contrasted with Plato’s abstract method. The lecture concludes by highlighting Aristotle’s systematic thinking and his lasting influence on medieval education and contemporary philosophy.
About Aristotle: From Logic to Life
In Aristotle: From Logic to Life, an eight-hour course, Dr. Orr explores Aristotle's comprehensive philosophical system, tracing his life, empirical methodology, and key contributions to logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and poetics. We examine his theories of substance, causation, virtue ethics, eudaimonia (human thriving), political life, and his analysis of tragedy and catharsis. The course follows his impact from medieval rediscovery and tensions with monotheism to contemporary revivals, showing why Aristotle remains a vital guide for modern philosophy.