Final answer:
Aristotle used the senses as a foundation for gaining insights into the world and centered his philosophy around the doctrine of the four causes, which posited that everything could be understood by examining its material, formal, efficient, and final causes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle, one of the preeminent intellectuals of the ancient world, based his philosophical framework on the notion that the senses, despite their imperfections, are capable of providing valuable insights into the workings of the world. Central to his philosophy was the doctrine of the four causes, encompassing material, formal, efficient, and final causes, which he used to comprehensively understand the nature of things and the universe.
Aristotle viewed the universe as a closed system accessible to human understanding, emphasizing the use of reason as a tool to uncover truths. In contrast to Plato, Aristotle presented his work more directly through lectures, covering an extensive range of topics, including metaphysics, epistemology, and natural philosophy. His intellectual legacy has had a profound and enduring impact on Western philosophy and scientific thought.