Which subjects did Alexander the Great study with Aristotle?
While historical records do not provide a detailed curriculum of the instruction Aristotle provided to Alexander the Great, it is known that the philosopher tutored the future king from the age of 13 to 16.12
Although some ancient texts once attributed the Rhetoric to Alexander to this period, that work is now widely considered a forgery. However, it is documented that Aristotle’s mentorship inspired Alexander’s lifelong interest in the following subjects:1
- Philosophy2
- Medicine2
- Scientific investigation2
Beyond these specific areas, ancient sources note that Alexander’s appreciation for scientific inquiry continued into his adulthood; during his military campaigns, he famously arranged for biological specimens from across Greece and Asia Minor to be collected and sent to his former tutor.1