How did Aristotle's dad inspire him?

Answer 1

The father of Aristotle died when Aristotle was about 10 years old. His name was Nicomachus, and he was a medical doctor to the King of Macedonia. It is possible the Aristotle's dad inspired him to think about science and Biology. Aristotle spent his childhood at the royal court of the King where his dad worked. After his father died, Aristotle was educated by medical doctor friends of his father.

Another way his father may have inspired him is that Aristotle named his son after his father, also Nicomachus. It has been suggested that one of Aristotle's most famous works, the Nicomachean Ethics, was named to honor his father and son.

Nicomachus, the father of Aristotle, who belonged to the family of the Asclepiadae, and was descended from Nicomachus, the son of Machaon. He had another son named Arimnestus, and a daughter named Arimneste, by his wife Phaestis, or Phaestias, who was also descended from Aesculapius. He was a native of Stageira, and the friend and physician of Amyntas II., king of Macedonia, 393-369 BC. He was perhaps the author of the works attributed (apparently) by Suidas to his ancestor, the son of Machaon. (Suid. s. v. Aristoteles, Nikomachos; Ammon. in vita Aristot.; Diog. Laërt. v. 1. § 1.; Dionys. De Demosth. et Aristot. § 5; Joann. Tzetz. Chil. x. 727).

Nicomachus was also the name of Aristotle's son. Some historians think the Nicomachean Ethics, a compilation of Aristotle's lecture notes, was probably named after or dedicated to Aristotle's son.

Answer 2

Aristotle's father, Nicomachus, was the personal physician to King Amyntas of Macedon. Nicomachus likely exposed Aristotle to the world of medicine, biology, and scientific inquiry from a young age, which may have sparked Aristotle's interest in natural philosophy and influenced his future career in philosophy and science.