Publisher's Synopsis
Along with Plato and Socrates, Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) is one of the triumvirate of philosophers responsible for the establishment of Western philosophy as it exists today. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were among the first to refine philosophical thought, and Socrates is credited with devising the Socratic Method as a way to argue and debate points rationally. The Ancient Greek philosophers further stressed the importance of virtue and stoicism, advocating the improvement of one's self through constant learning and knowledge. These teachings and practices formed the foundation for philosophy and psychology as fields of study.
Still, Aristotle was very much his own philosopher. Though he studied at Plato's famous academy, he was not hesitant to counter or criticize Plato's philosophical stances on certain issues. Aristotle was the most renowned Ancient Greek philosopher for nearly 2,000 years.
One of Aristotle's acclaimed works is The Athenian Constitution, which is a history of the Constitution that governed the world's first democracy in Ancient Athens. In addition to discussing how the Constitution came about, Aristotle explains some the Constitution's important terms and parts as well, and it's clear how important Athenian democracy and its rules have been to today's democracies and representative governments.