Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) was a student of Plato. His Life Aristotle was born in Stagira (the origin of his nickname, the Stagirite), Thrace — not far from Athens. His father was a physician in the Macedonian court. He learned, initially, from his father, but at the age of eighteen was sent to Plato’s academy. He became immediately notorious for two reasons: one, that he was a dandy; two, he was easily the sharpest student in the academy.