The historical accuracy of the events during these different periods is uncertain, because the particulars must be pieced together from various stories that have been passed down through different, and sometimes conflicting, traditions. The "facts" about Aristotle that survive in these traditions are not merely attempts to document historic occurrences. They are illustrations of the different portraits of Aristotle that each tradition finds worth preserving. By following the lines of agreement among the various biographical sources and heeding clues found in his works, one can form a picture of Aristotle's life that is likely to be generally accurate.
In 367 B.C., when he was nearly eighteen, Aristotle went to Athens to continue his education at Plato's Academy; he stayed at the Academy until Plato's death twenty years later. During this time Aristotle studied mathematics and dialectic, a form of argumentative reasoning. He must also have become familar with Plato's thought from the latter's written dialogues and lectures. Aristotle was both a student and a close friend of Plato's, but the strength and independence of his own mind would suggest that he was never a mere follower of his teacher. Plato was nevertheless the dominant influence in Aristotle's intellectual life.
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