History: Aristotle

384 - 322 BCE- Aristotle was one of Plato's students, and remains one of the most important thinkers in Western Civilization to this day. Although Aristotle believed in universal forms, like Plato, Aristotle did not agree with Plato's idea of ideal forms. Aristotle believed that form and matter were inseparable and that each physical object encompasses the totality of its form, without extension beyond itself. Aristotle's teachings played an important role in the development of Western Civilization. Aristotle believed in a guarded equality of the sexes, mostly asserting that women must be happy and productive for society to be complete, however, he did not view women as the equals of men. On the contrary he viewed them as inferior or incomplete "males."