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Aristotle came to the [[Academy]] when he was seventeen and stayed there for twenty years until the death of [[Plato]].  Aristotle’s approach was in stark contrast to Plato's. Whereas Plato thought all true [[knowledge]] could be obtained [[a priori]]- a [[disembodied]] [[mind]] floating in a featureless void with no sense [[experience]] could work out everything there is to know- Aristotle thought that the natural world needed to be studied and observed for knowledge to be gained. He embarked on the massive task of observing and compiling as much information as possible on everything he could study at the time.  In contrast to Plato’s interest in physics and maths, Aristotle was fascinated by biology, and classified over 500 animal species.  He ultimately founded his own school, the Lyceum, and equipped it with specimens, libraries, maps and other accoutrements found in modern [[university]].

Aristotle came to the [[Academy]] when he was seventeen and stayed there for twenty years until the death of [[Plato]].  Aristotle’s approach was in stark contrast to Plato's. Whereas Plato thought all true [[knowledge]] could be obtained [[a priori]]- a [[disembodied]] [[mind]] floating in a featureless void with no sense [[experience]] could work out everything there is to know- Aristotle thought that the natural world needed to be studied and observed for knowledge to be gained. He embarked on the massive task of observing and compiling as much information as possible on everything he could study at the time.  In contrast to Plato’s interest in physics and maths, Aristotle was fascinated by biology, and classified over 500 animal species.  He ultimately founded his own school, the Lyceum, and equipped it with specimens, libraries, maps and other accoutrements found in modern [[university]].

[[Charles Murray]] said, "He more or less invented logic, which was of pivotal importance in human history (and no other civilization ever came up with it independently)." [http://www.isteve.com/2003_QA_with_Charles_Murray_on_Human_Accomplishment.htm]

[[Charles Murray]] said, "He more or less invented [[logic]], which was of pivotal importance in human history (and no other civilization ever came up with it independently)." [http://www.isteve.com/2003_QA_with_Charles_Murray_on_Human_Accomplishment.htm]

Aristotle also formulated [[Virtue Ethics]], a code of living which emphasises what sort of person we want to be when making a decision, rather than, as tends to be the focus in modern ethical thinking, the motives or the consequences of actions (see ''[[Nicomachean Ethics]]''). When Aristotle's teachings were brought back to Europe at the end of the [[Dark Ages]] by [[Arab]] [[merchants]], [[Aquinas]], eager to reconcile Catholicism with Aristotle's secular empiricism, developed [[Natural Law Theory]].

Aristotle also formulated [[Virtue Ethics]], a code of living which emphasises what sort of person we want to be when making a decision, rather than, as tends to be the focus in modern ethical thinking, the motives or the consequences of actions (see ''[[Nicomachean Ethics]]''). When Aristotle's teachings were brought back to Europe at the end of the [[Dark Ages]] by [[Arab]] [[merchants]], [[Aquinas]], eager to reconcile Catholicism with Aristotle's secular empiricism, developed [[Natural Law Theory]].