ARISTOTLE

     Everything you see around you, all of modern day civilization is made possible by one man more than any other in world history – Aristotle.

     Plato said you had to plug your ears and shut your eyes if you want to know the truths about the world – How? – Somehow. Aristotle said no. He defined the fact that knowledge must start with observation, observation of the facts of reality, that you had to unplug your ears and open your eyes.

     Aristotle, the father of logic, was a polymath – the extent of his knowledge was truly astounding. His writings covered physics (He defined the fact that science must start with observation), biology, zoology (Darwin said all the others are like school boys compared to Aristotle), metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, psychology, economics, politics and government. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him, and it was above all from his teachings that The West inherited its intellectual lexicon, as well as methods of inquiry. As a result, his philosophy has exerted an immeasurable influence on almost every form of knowledge in The West.

     The Renaissance, the rebirth of reason, the 17^th century Age of Science where men like Galileo and Newton taught us that we can discover the nature of reality and what it can be made to do, the 18^th century Enlightenment, the birth of freedom and capitalism and the Industrial Revolution – all brought to you by one man more than any other in world history - Aristotle.

NOTE: It’s my understanding that Aristotle is making a comeback in the philosophy departments of our universities. If true, this is hugely important because it’s the philosophers who teach the intellectuals who teach the teachers who teach our kids.