Final answer:
The statement is false; ahimsa is an Indian philosophical concept, not one developed by Aristotle. Ahimsa pertains to non-violence and non-harming, integral to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist teachings and linked to the laws of karma and reincarnation. Aristotle's philosophy is distinct and focused on virtue ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the idea of ahimsa was originally developed by Aristotle is false. Ahimsa is a core concept in classical Indian philosophy, which advocates for the non-harming of other living beings. This concept predates Aristotle and is a significant principle in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. It promotes a non-violent lifestyle and had a profound influence on historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, who used it as a foundation for his nonviolent civil disobedience movement. Ahimsa is closely related to the concepts of karma and samsara, signifying that any harm done to others will ultimately return to harm the individual.
In contrast, Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, whose works focused more on worldly existence and developing virtue ethics. While both ahimsa and Socrates's harm principle suggest that causing harm to others ultimately harms the self, they arise from different philosophical traditions and employ distinct mechanisms to explain this relationship. Ahimsa's origins can be traced back to the Vedic tradition, while Socrates, an earlier Greek philosopher, was more concerned with how individuals ought to live a virtuous life and discouraged causing harm because it damages one's own moral character.