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Fig. 7. ARISTOTLE

From HERCULANEUM

Probably work of fourth century b. c.

In 342 b. c., at the request of Philip of Macedon, Aristotle became tutor to Philip’s son, Alexander. He remained in Macedonia for seven years and about 336, when Alexander departed for the invasion of Asia, returned to Athens where he taught at the Lyceum and established his famous school afterwards called the Peripatetic. Most of his works were produced during this the closing period of his life between 335 and 323 b. c. After Alexander’s death in 323 and the break up of his empire, Aristotle, who was regarded as friendly to the Macedonian power, was placed in a difficult position. Regarded with enmity by the anti-Macedonian party, he withdrew from Athens and died soon after in 322 b. c. at Chalcis in Euboea at about sixty-two years of age.

The scientific works to which Aristotle’s name is attached may be divided into three groups, physical, biological, and psychological. In size they vary from such a large treatise as the History of Animals to the tiny tracts which go to make up the Parva naturalia. So far as the scientific writings can be distinguished as separate works they may be set forth as follows: