Aristotle (384-322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher whose writings on science, ethics, and politics form a foundational part of the western intellectual tradition. Born in northeastern Greece, he moved to Athens as a teen to study under the philosopher Plato. Around the time of Plato’s death (~347 BC), Aristotle left Athens to research in Greece and Asia minor, eventually accepting King Phillip II’s invitation to tutor his son, the young Alexander the Great. Around 335 BC, Aristotle returned to Athens and founded the Lyceum, a school of philosophy. While teaching there, Aristotle composed dozens of treatises, investigating subjects ranging from astronomy and metaphysics to poetry and logic. These writings have been the standard for philosophical inquiry for millennia. Among his treatises are several examinations of ethics and politics. His understanding of human virtue and his description of political life were an important part of the American founders’ literary canon.