Nicomachus (son of Aristotle)

Nicomachus (Greek: Νικόμαχος; fl. c. 325 BC), was the son of Aristotle.

Biographical details

The Suda — a massive 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world — states that Nicomachus was from Stageira, was a philosopher, a pupil of Theophrastus,^[1] and, according to Aristippus, his lover.^[2] He may have written a commentary on his father's lectures in physics.^[3] Nicomachus was born to the slave Herpyllis, and his father's will commended his care as a boy to several tutors, then to his adopted son, Nicanor. Historians think the Nicomachean Ethics, a compilation of Aristotle's lecture notes, was probably named after or dedicated to Aristotle's son. Several ancient authorities may have conflated Aristotle's ethical works with the commentaries that Nicomachus wrote on them.^[4] Ancient sources indicate that Nicomachus died in battle while still a "lad".^[5]

Aristotle's father was also called Nicomachus.

References

1. Diogenes Laërtius. Life of Theophrastus VII
2. ap. Diogenes Laertius, v. 38, and repeated by the Suda, Nicomachus
3. Suda, nu,398.
4. William Maxwell Gunn. "Nicomachus" Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. William Smith, editor. p 1194. 1867.
5. Jonathan Barnes, "Roman Aristotle", in Gregory Nagy, Greek Literature, Routledge 2001, vol. 8, p. 176 n. 249.