Week 4b: Daily Blog Day 4 – Thursday, February 24, 2011

Daily Blog Day 4 – Thursday, February 24, 2011

Question: Based on what you know about Aristotle, do you think Alexander had listened carefully to his tutor?

            I believed that Alexander the Great listened to his tutor very much so during his life. This may have partially been because of his loss of his father at a young age. Alexander would have needed to have found some sort of role model or influential leader to guide him in his young reign, although, I can only speculate about as we really do not know.  Aristotle himself was appointed as head of the royal academy of Macedon, and not only did he teach Alexander the Great, but also the kings Ptolemp and Cassander. One quote on Aristotle’s political views on Wikipedia, I found extremely interesting and helpful in expressing how Aristotle may have influenced Alexander the Great. It says, “Aristotle states that only one thing could justify monarchy, and that was if the virtue of the king and his family were greater than the virtue of the rest of the citizens put together.” Also, he cunningly mentioned Alexander in his father placing them in that group of people. Plus, it has been said that Aristotle went as far as encourage this behavior in Alexander, and pushed him towards eastern conquest. Aristotle’s own views on Persia are racist and disrespectful. He feels even once told young Alexander the Great “to be leader to the Greeks and a despot to the barbarians.” If that does not prove Aristotle’s views, I am not sure what will. Therefore, I strongly believe that Alexander listened to his tutor as any young child looks up and listen to a role model.