Aristotle – The Thinker Who Shaped the World
British philosopher John Sellars boldly claims that Aristotle may be “the most important human being who ever lived.” This might seem exaggerated, but once you dive into the vast impact Aristotle has had on our world, the claim starts to make sense.
From politics to biology, literature to logic, Aristotle’s influence spans nearly every discipline. He laid the groundwork for modern science through his study of marine life and created frameworks in political science by analyzing different government systems. His Poetics continues to shape the storytelling rules of modern cinema, while his contributions to logic underpin everything from philosophy to computer science.
Sellars, a professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, emphasizes that Aristotle didn't just offer ideas—he transformed how we think itself. In his article for Antigone magazine and his book titled Aristotle, he reiterates this bold statement: “He shaped the way we think.”
A Journey Through the Paths of Knowledge
Aristotle, along with Socrates and Plato, forms the golden trio of ancient Greek philosophy. Born in Stagira, northern Greece, Aristotle moved to Athens at 18 to study under Plato at the Academy, where he remained for two decades.
After Plato’s death, Aristotle journeyed to Lesbos, delving into nature’s mysteries and pioneering scientific inquiry. His reputation soared, leading to an invitation to tutor the future conqueror Alexander the Great. When Alexander began his campaigns, Aristotle returned to Athens and founded the Lyceum, his own school.
Despite only a fraction of his writings surviving, we still have nearly a million words of his work—an extraordinary intellectual inheritance. And it's not just the quantity that impresses—it's the range. Aristotle was one of the earliest figures to pursue science systematically, long before tools like the microscope or DNA sequencing existed. By classifying animals and emphasizing observation over assumption, he established the core principle that continues to guide modern scientific inquiry.
A Legacy That Still Shapes Us
Aristotle’s method extended into politics, where he studied and compared different constitutions to understand societal success and failure. This comparative approach is still at the heart of political science and sociology.
His insights into storytelling—especially his famous structure of "beginning, middle, and end"—still guide how movies and books are written today. Meanwhile, his logical principles, such as the Law of the Excluded Middle (a statement is either true or false), have influenced philosophical discourse and even the binary logic behind computers.
Yet perhaps his most profound legacy lies in ethics. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explored the concept of eudaimonia—often translated as human flourishing. He argued that a meaningful life balances rational thinking, social bonds, and intellectual growth.
Sellars observes that Aristotle’s thinking is now so embedded in modern life that we often forget its origin. “His concepts are everywhere,” he says. “We just accept that’s the way things should be.”
Final Thoughts: Was Aristotle the Most Important Person in History?
Whether or not we agree with Sellars’ claim that Aristotle is the most important person in history, one thing is clear: his influence is timeless. Aristotle didn’t just shape the ancient world—he shaped ours, too.
From science to ethics, politics to storytelling, his ideas continue to echo through the centuries, reminding us that great thinking truly knows no bounds.
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