Aristotelian Ethics & Alexander the Great | Mini Bio Documentary | Famous Men of Virtue

In the autumn of 324 BC, Alexander stood up and looked at the faces of his Macedonian army. He had seen these faces many times before. Seven years earlier, before the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander saw in the faces of these same men a fierce love and resolute spirit that led to a decisive victory for his army against the Persian king. But on this crisp autumn day in the year 324, Alexander did not see those same warm-hearted expressions. Instead, he saw the fomenting glances of mutiny. In just under 13 years, Alexander the Great changed the shape of the known world. When he toppled the Persian Empire, he brought Greek language and culture into the East, which culminated in the establishment of Greek cities all throughout the Western world. But what was the source of his greatness? This question reveals a heated debate among Greco-Roman philosophers. Did Alexander achieve greatness because he was virtuous or because he was fortunate? Did Thucydides, the Greek goddess of fortune and destiny, bestow greatness upon Alexander? Or did Alexander, by nature of his virtue, secure for himself the heights of glory? Although Thucydides might try to claim Alexander as her chief masterpiece, Plutarch observed that a proper philosopher must acknowledge the many virtues of Alexander himself, especially the greatest of his virtues, courage. For it was courage, more than wisdom, justice, or tipperance, that turned a young Macedonian prince into Alexander the Great, King of the Greeks and King of Asia. The story of Alexander the Great comes from our Classical Studies course, Famous Men of Greece, a collection of stories gathered from the annals of history and myth. It's perfect for any student or teacher of classical history from 5th to 7th grade. Before Alexander was a king, he was a student. When Alexander turned 13, Philip sent his son to learn from Aristotle. Under this capable tutor, Alexander learned about medicine, philosophy, morals, logic, and art. Above all, he learned to love the works of Homer, and in particular, the Iliad. Through the influence of this ancient Greek story, the young Alexander came to idealize the mighty Achilles, the perfect embodiment of a courageous warrior-king. Unsurprisingly then, Alexander adored this hero, and the life of Achilles became a paradigm for Alexander. In May of the year 334 BC, Alexander arrived at the bank of the Granicus River, where he would confront the Persian army for the very first time. The Macedonian nomamen had declared Alexander king just two years earlier at the age of But having just crossed the Hellespont into Asia, he was eager to test the Persian resolve. As he approached the Granicus, he saw the impressive Persian horde on the adjacent bank. Although his second-in-command recommended that he delay the attack and make camp for the night, Alexander saw a unique opportunity to strike a crippling blow to the Persian empire early in his campaign. But more importantly, unlike his seasoned generals, Alexander had the courage to take advantage of this opportunity. When Alexander ordered his Macedonians to cross the river, he led the charge with his elite companion cavalry, called Hetairoi. Alexander plunged headlong into the vanguard of the Persian army. This daring act of courage caused the Persian center to collapse and provided the Macedonian infantry enough time to cross the river and envelop the Persian forces. Alexander was a military genius, but it was his courage that won the battle. This bravery won the loyalty and affection of his men, but this virtue was a double-edged sword. As one Roman historian explained, he demanded that his men should enter battle bravely because he himself set an example to the rest in valor. Alexander's men repeatedly took great casualties when they accompanied him into battle, so perhaps at times, the courage of Alexander descended into reckless disregard for the men that loved him. At these times, vice was confused with virtue, and Alexander's men often paid the price. However, Alexander also bore the wounds and scars of his courageous accomplishments. When Alexander spoke to his troops before the Battle of Gagamela, it was said that he didn't even need words because so many scars spoke for him, so many ornaments to his body. Plutarch said the wounds of Alexander were practical evidence of his courage. The gash on his head from a scimitar at the Granicus, the arrow wound in his ankle at the Siege of Gaza, the dislocated shoulder, another arrow through the shin at Marikanda, and many more. Alexander would call upon these scars as witnesses in his defense. Fortune had not made him great. Courage had won for him an empire. But on this cold autumn day in 324 BC, Alexander's men were mutinous. After 13 years of conquest and victory, Alexander's army was defiant and traitorous. Once again, Alexander required courage to stand up to his army. History records the brave, almost audacious speech Alexander gave to his men. I defeated in a Calvary engagement the satraps of Darius, and annexed to your rule the whole of Ionia and Aeolus, both Phrygios and Lydia, and took Miletus by storm. All the rest came over to our side spontaneously, and I made them yours for you to enjoy. All the wealth of Egypt and Cyrene, which I won without a fight, are now yours. Both Khole Syria, Palestine, and Mesopotamia are your possessions. Babylonia and Bactria and Elam belong to you. You own the wealth of Lydia, the treasures of Persia, the riches of India, and the outer ocean. In short, Alexander had conquered the world and given it to his people. He continued, You are satraps, you are generals, you are captains. As for me, what do I have left from these labors? Merely this purple cloak and diadem. When Alexander finished, he went back to his tent. His men, moved by his courage and reminded of their love for him, pleaded with Alexander for forgiveness. Alexander's courage had once again saved his army. One year later, Alexander died from an unknown illness before he had the opportunity to continue his conquest. And perhaps the obscurity of his death should only further turn our attention to the virtues of Alexander's life and the courage that made him great. The life of Alexander illustrates a central classical virtue, courage. Courage compelled him to advance when others retreated. Courage drove him to act when others could not or would not for fear of failure. In other words, the life of Alexander demonstrates the near limitless potential of a courageous life. As Christians, Thomas Aquinas reminds us that courage is not only reserved for battlefield aggression. Rather, courage is an internal disposition of the soul that compels one to act with bravery and endurance. Through this Christian lens, Alexander becomes a model of courageous activity and a warning about the excesses of reckless behavior. Thank you so much for watching this episode of Famous Men of Virtue. If you liked the episode, leave a like or comment below. And if you want to learn more about people like Alexander the Great, check out Famous Men of Greece only from Memoria Press.