Full Idea
To the best of my knowledge (and somewhat to my surprise), Aristotle never actually says that man is a rational animal; however, he all but says it.
Gist of Idea
Aristotle never actually says that man is a rational animal
Source
report of Aristotle (works [c.330 BCE]) by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason Ch.1
Book Reference
Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.17
A Reaction
When I read this I thought that this database would prove Fogelin wrong, but it actually supports him, as I can't find it in Aristotle either. Descartes refers to it in Med.Two. In Idea 5133 Aristotle does say that man is a 'social being'. But 22586!
Related Ideas
Idea 5133 Man is by nature a social being [Aristotle]
Idea 22586 Only humans have reason [Aristotle]