384-322 B.C.

Greek philosopher who is considered the most influential ancient philosopher of the sciences. Aristotle wrote founding texts in physics, astronomy, meteorology, psychology, and biology. A student of Plato and a member of the Academy, his writings often contradicted his teacher's ideas, and he founded a rival center of learning, the Lyceum. Later thinkers venerated Aristotle's words, and they were copied, revised, Christianized, twisted, and eventually criticized and overthrown in the late Renaissance. He also wrote on numerous other topics, including rhetoric, politics, and ethics.