Influence of Aristotle on Alexander

[jan]

I am interested in knowing just how much influence Aristotle had on Alexander throughout his career. It is said that Alexander described him as a second father, that Philip had taught him military skills, but that Aristotle had taught him how to live. It appears that he and Aristotle kept an ongoing correspondence during his travels. Just how important is Aristotle in the success of Alexander?

[boris]

I cant answer that one, but perhaps the likes of Marcus and others can!That said, I certainly think that Aristotle had enough influence on Alexander to get him to admire and promote values of 'high greek culture' such as philosophy that was getting very 'scientific' with advanced concepts in mathematics, engineering, grammer/language and polititical theory.Such things then became common place in the 'Hellenistic World' that Alexander left after his empire fell apart. And on that note, while his empire did fall apart his legacy was lasting!

[elpinice]

I find it difficult to wholeheartedly accept the idea that Aristotle promoted "high greek culture" with Alexander. Certainly Alexander spread many Aristotelian ideas around his empire, but he also disagreed with many "high greek" values, such as the belief that Greeks were superior to all other "Barbarian" races, which Aristotle believed completely.Elpinice

[Efstathios]

First of all ,Alexander was not a replica of Aristotle or of anyone else.So of course he had his own ideas about some things.We do not know exactly what were his initial thoughts about the non greek populations.But we know that Alexander thought that with proper education (greek education) they could be equal.Now that is not contradicting to what Aristotle thought.He thought that the non greek populations who were called barbarians by the greeks were inferior because they had extreme behaviours and such.But what if Aristotle said to Alexander that maybe if a barbarian had proper education he would no longer be that way?We dont know what exactly Aristotle tought Alexander and we cannot know their conversations.So everything is possible

[Nicator]

The thought that comes to my mind on this issue is that Alexander early on in his life was perhaps more under the viewpoints of Aristotle, and as he went along, encountering new people and ideas, became more of his own man. A natural enough progression. On a closer look though, Alexander seemed a bit threatened by the possibility that the Greeks would be privy to the esoteric information once reserved for Alexander (and his close companions) only. That he was not as threatened by foreigners learning, but rather, encouraged it seems interesting. Perhaps, his view on the foreigners was a bit condescending in that he didn't think them as intelligent...or intelligent, but too far behind to ever be much of a threat. Another possibility was that the Greek education that the foreigners were proposed to get was common knowledge type stuff, and therefore, not a threat. Either way, this issue gives us some idea into Alexader's all too elusive psyche. later Nicator

[jan]

You raise some interesting questions as one of the first things that Alexander introduced was the study of the Greek language. In order for Greek culture to be successful, it was necessary that the language skills be taught. However threatening that may have been, pragmatists always learn to quickly adopt the conqueror's tongue. Through military might, Alexander had proved his capability, but only through commerce, legislation, and education would the Greek culture survive. I always wonder at what point it was that the Persian kings of all the other vast territories who had regularly visited Persepolis finally acknowledged Alexander as the Persian King, or Asian King. He did not stay around long enough for them to come to him as they did in their annual trek to Persepolis. He burned the city down so that they could not. Perhaps that was the main symbol of the burning, that no longer would all the kings congregate at one time in that location. Just food for thought.