Like Plato, Aristotle thought art to be highly influential. Unlike Plato, he believed it to be valuable for our souls. Since the Form is in the Substance (the sensory world), artistic reflection on the world which surrounds us is good for our souls.

And so Aristotle wanted art to imitate life. He especially liked art which appeals to the emotions as well as the intellect. And he most especially liked art which helps to purge our spirits. This cathartic function of artistic expression is the highest purpose an artist can achieve, in Aristotle's view. Tragic drama is therefore the best art, for it operates psychologically to relieve us of the oppressive emotions of pity and fear.

This philosophy of art has become is one of the most influential aesthetic theories all time. It has been used to justify all sorts of artistic expression, and has itself been subject to significant critique. In short, it is by no means certain that an artistic cathartic experience relieves us of our emotions or the need to act them out. Much evidence indicates that such artistic experience actually creates in us an even greater desire to act out what we have seen the artist do.

Aristotle would say, "The drama kept me from doing it." Many psychologists today would say the opposite.

Aristotle wrote more than a thousand manuscripts. Unfortunately, only a few of his writings have survived, in the form of notes used in lectures. These were assembled by his pupil, Theophrastus, and sent to Asia Minor for safe keeping. Here they remained for 150 years, until they were translated into Latin, Syrian, and Arabic. They were lost again, and not rediscovered until the fifth century A.D., when they were translated from the Arabic versions.

From the fifth to the fifteenth centuries, Aristotle was regarded as the fountainhead of all knowledge. Thomas Aquinas called him "the Philosopher"; Dante called him "the Master of those who know." Education and culture were based on his thought, and his works were studied and memorized as dogma.

Reaction against Aristotle came with the Renaissance and Francis Bacon's critical philosophy. The flaws in his method, conclusions, and theories were pointed out. Some scientists believe that blind acceptance of the errors of Aristotle stunted the growth of science for hundreds of years.

The progress of Greek philosophy after Plato and Aristotle changed dramatically after their deaths. No great original systems would appear; thinkers for the most part were satisfied to repeat their opinions. From his time to ours, no other man has made such a serious addition to so many branches of knowledge as Aristotle. From theology to psychology, his philosophical construction shaped the Western world for more than a millennium. And its impact on our worldview continues today.

If a great man plants trees he'll never sit under, Aristotle was truly great. At least for philosophy. His impact on Christian faith is another matter, as we'll soon see.

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