Final answer:
Aristotle believed in using reason to discover truth, stating that a proposition is true if it accurately describes reality. He encouraged philosophical inquiry to understand the essence of things through his four causes, ultimately aiming towards eudaimonia, the highest good and purpose of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Aristotle Discovered Truth
According to Aristotle, the discovery of truth is rooted in the use of reason to understand the world around us. In his view, a statement is true if it accurately describes a fact or the essence of something, such that 'A is B' is true if A is indeed B. This corresponds with the principle that a true statement affirms what is and denies what is not. For instance, 'Dogs are mammals' is true because dogs indeed possess the characteristics that define mammals.
Aristotle was a proponent of philosophical inquiry that starts from wonder and seeks to understand the fundamental nature of things through the doctrine of the four causes: material, formal, efficient, and final causes. This method involves asking and answering critical questions about the composition, form, origins, and purpose of an object or concept. This inquiry ultimately leads to knowledge of the first cause or prime mover, which Aristotle described as 'thought thinking itself.'
Moreover, in his focus on human actions and pursuits, Aristotle believed that they all aim at some good, with the highest good being eudaimonia, or human flourishing. Everything we do is directed toward achieving this state of flourishing, which is considered the ultimate truth or purpose of life.