Aristotle: The First Teacher

The first modern biography of Aristotle—student of Plato, tutor to Alexander, and architect of ideas still studied around the world

Aristotle stands among the most brilliant and influential figures in history, the inventor of almost every subject studied in universities today, from biology to political science to literary criticism to logic. Yet until now his life has remained a mystery.

In this book, Philip Freeman brings Aristotle (384–322 BCE) vividly to life, from his orphan childhood to his years as Plato’s student in Athens and his role as tutor to Alexander the Great in Macedonia. Drawing on ancient sources and modern scholarship, Freeman traces Aristotle’s journey through a world of political upheaval and intellectual revolution, revealing Aristotle not only as a philosopher but as a scientist, literary critic, and seeker of happiness—a man who dissected sea creatures, mapped the stars, and invented logic to make sense of life’s complexities.

Aristotle’s ideas still shape how we think about truth, virtue, and the good life. This is the definitive portrait of one of history’s greatest minds—the thinker Dante called “the master of those who know.”