Commentary on Metaphysics/ Aristotle/ Aquinas

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METAPHYSICS

BOOK I

ARISTOTLES INTRODUCTIONHISTORY OF METAPHYSICAL INQUIRY

CONTENTS

LESSON 1: The Dignity and Object of This Science

LESSON 2: Wisdom Considers Universal First Causes and First Principles

LESSON 3: The Nature and Goal of Metaphysics

LESSON 4: Opinions about the Material Cause

LESSON 5: Opinions about the Efficient Cause

LESSON 6: Love and Hate as Efficient Causes of Good and Evil

LESSON 7: The Views of the Atomists and the Pythagoreans

LESSON 8: The Pythagorean Doctrine about Contraries

LESSON 9:The Opinions of the Eleatics and Pythagoreans about the Causes ofThings

LESSON 10: The Platonic Theory of Ideas

LESSON 11: A Summary of the Early Opinions about the Causes

LESSON 12: Criticism of the Views about the Number of Material Principles

LESSON 13: Criticism of the Pythagoreans' Opinions

LESSON 14: Arguments against the Platonic Ideas

LESSON 15: The Destruction of the Platonists' Arguments for Ideas

LESSON 16: Arguments against the View that Ideas Are Numbers

LESSON 17:Arguments against the View that the Ideas Are Principles of Beingand Knowledge

LESSON 1

The Dignity and Object of This Science

ARISTOTLES TEXT Chapter 1: 980a 21-983a 3
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[980] [21] . : ,

. [25] . .

1. All men naturally desire to know. Asign of this is the delight we take in the

senses; for apart from their usefulness

they are loved for themselves, and most of

all the sense which operates through theeyes. For not only that we may act, but

even when we intend to do nothing, we

prefer sight, as we may say, to all theother senses. The reason is that of all the

senses this most enables us to know and

reveals many differences between things.

,

2. Animals by nature, then, are born withsensory power.

, . [980] [21] , ( ), [25] .

3. Now in some animals memory arises

from the senses, but in others it does not;

and for this reason the former are prudentand more capable of being taught than

those which are unable to remember.

Those which cannot hear sounds areprudent but unable to learn, as the bee and

any other similar type of animal there may

be. But any which have this sense

together with memory are able to learn.

, : .

4. Thus other animals live by imaginationand memory and share little in experience,

whereas the human race lives by art and

reasoning.

: . [981] [1] ,

5. Now in men experience comes frommemory, for many memories of the same

thing produce the capacity of a single

experience. And experience seems to be

somewhat like science and art.

: , , [5] .

6. But in men science and art come from

experience; for Experience causes art,and inexperience, luck, as Polus rightlystates. Art comes into being when frommany conceptions acquired by experience


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: [30] . ,

[981] [1] ( , , , : [5] ), .

those who have experience know thatsomething is so but do not know why,

whereas the others know the why and the

cause. For this reason, too, we think that

the master planners in each art are to beheld in greater esteem, and that they know

more and are wiser than the manual

laborers, because they understand thereasons for the things which are done.

Indeed, we think that the latter resemble

certain inanimate things, which act but do

not know what they do, as fire burns.Therefore inanimate things perform each

of their actions as a result of a certain

natural disposition, whereas manual

laborers perform theirs through habit,implying that some men are wiser not

insofar as they are practical but insofar asthey themselves have the theories and

know the causes.

, : , . [10]

10. In general a sign, of scientific

knowledge is the ability to teach, and forthis reason we think that art rather than

experience is science. For those who have

an art are able to teach, whereas the others

are not.

: : , , .

11. Furthermore, we do not hold that anyone of the senses is wisdom, since the

cognition of singular things belongs

especially to the senses. However, thesedo not tell us why a thing is so; for

example, they do not tell us why fire is

hot but only that it is so.

[15] :

12 It is only fitting, then, that the one whodiscovered any art whatsoever that went

beyond the common perceptions of men

should be admired by men, not only

because of some usefulness of hisdiscoveries, but as one who is wise and as


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, [20] .

, : , [25] . :

distinguishing [a thing] from others. Andas more of the arts were discovered, some

to supply the necessities of life, and others

to introduce us [to the sciences], those

who discovered the former were alwaysconsidered to be wiser than those who

discovered the former, because their

sciences were not for the sake of utility.Hence, after all such arts had already been

developed, those sciences were

discovered which are pursued neither for

the sake of pleasure nor necessity. Thishappened first in those places where men

had leisure. Hence the mathematical arts

originated in Egypt, for there the priestly

class was permitted leisure. Thedifference between art and science and

similar mental states has been stated inour work on morals.

, : , , [30] , , , . [982] [1] , .

13. Now the reason for undertaking this

investigation is that all men think that the

science which is called wisdom deals withthe primary causes and principles of

things. Hence, as we have said before (8,

9), the man of experience is considered to

be wiser than one who has any of thesenses; the artist wiser than the man of

experience; the master planner wiser than

the manual laborer and speculativeknowledge wiser than practical

knowledge. It is quite evident then, that

wisdom is a science of certain causes andprinciples.

COMMENTARY

Three reasons why people naturally desire to

know

Huic autem scientiae Aristoteles prooemium

praemittit, in quo duo tradit. Primo quidem

1. Aristotle first sets down an introduction to

this science, in which he treats of two things.


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ostendit circa quid haec scientia versetur.

Secundo qualis sit ista scientia, ibi, quia veronon activa.

First (2), he points out with what this science

is concerned. Second (53), he explains whatkind of science it is (That this is not apractical science).

Circa primum duo facit. Primo ostendit, quod

huius scientiae, quae sapientia dicitur, estconsiderare causas. Secundo quales vel quas

causas considerat, ibi, quoniam autem

scientiam hanc.

In regard to the first he does two things. First,

he shows that the office of this science, whichis called wisdom, is to consider the causes of

things. Second (36), he explains with whatcauses or kinds of causes it is concerned (Butsince we are in search).

Circa primum praemittit quaedam ex quibusad propositum arguit. Secundo ex praedictis

rationem sumit, ibi, cuius autem gratia nunc.

In regard to the first he prefaces certainpreliminary considerations form which he

argues in support of his thesis. Second (35), he

draws a conclusion from these considerations(Now the reason for undertaking).

Circa primum duo facit. Primo ostendit in

communi scientiae dignitatem. Secundo,

ostendit cognitionis ordinem, ibi, animaliaquidem igitur et cetera.


he makes clear the dignity of scientific

knowledge in general. Second (9), he explainsthe hierarchy in knowing (Animals bynature).

Scientiae autem dignitatem ostendit per hoc

quod naturaliter desideratur ab omnibustamquam finis. Unde circa hoc duo facit.

Primo proponit intentum. Secundo probat, ibi,

signum autem.

Now he establishes the dignity of scientific

knowledge from the fact that it is naturallydesired as an end by all men. Hence, in regard

to this he does two things. First, he states what

he intends [to prove]. Second (1), he proves it(A sign of this).

Proponit igitur primo, quod omnibushominibus naturaliter desiderium inest ad

sciendum.

Accordingly, he says, first, that the desire toknow belongs by nature to all men.

Cuius ratio potest esse triplex: 2. Three reasons can be given for this:

primo quidem, quia unaquaeque res

naturaliter appetit perfectionem sui. Unde etmateria dicitur appetere formam, sicut

imperfectum appetit suam perfectionem. Cum

igitur intellectus, a quo homo est id quod est,

The first is that each thing naturally desires its

own perfection. Hence matter is also said todesire form as any imperfect thing desires its

perfection. Therefore, since the intellect, by

which man is what he is, considered in itself is


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in se consideratus sit in potentia omnia, nec

in actum eorum reducatur nisi per scientiam,quia nihil est eorum quae sunt, ante

intelligere, ut dicitur in tertio de anima: sic

naturaliter unusquisque desiderat scientiamsicut materia formam.

all things potentially, and becomes them

actually only through knowledge, because theintellect is none of the things that exist before

it understands them, as is stated in Book III

of The Soul, so each man naturally desiresknowledge just as matter desires form.

Secundo, quia quaelibet res naturalem

inclinationem habet ad suam propriam

operationem: sicut calidum ad calefaciendum,et grave ut deorsum moveatur. Propria autem

operatio hominis inquantum homo, est

intelligere. Per hoc enim ab omnibus aliis

differt. Unde naturaliter desiderium hominisinclinatur ad intelligendum, et per consequens

ad sciendum.

3. The second reason is that each thing has a

natural inclination to perform its proper

operation, as something hot is naturallyinclined to heat, and something heavy to be

moved downwards. Now the proper operation

of man as man is to understand, for by reason

of this he differs from all other things. Hencethe desire of man is naturally inclined to

understand, and therefore to possess scientificknowledge.

Tertio, quia unicuique rei desiderabile est, utsuo principio coniungatur; in hoc enim

uniuscuiusque perfectio consistit. Unde et

motus circularis est perfectissimus, ut

probatur octavo physicorum, quia finemconiungit principio. Substantiis autem

separatis, quae sunt principia intellectus

humani, et ad quae intellectus humanus se

habet ut imperfectum ad perfectum, nonconiungitur homo nisi per intellectum: unde

et in hoc ultima hominis felicitas consistit. Et

ideo naturaliter homo desiderat scientiam.Nec obstat si aliqui homines scientiae huic

studium non impendant; cum frequenter qui

finem aliquem desiderant, a prosecutionefinis ex aliqua causa retrahantur, vel propter

difficultatem perveniendi, vel propter alias

occupationes. Sic etiam licet omnes homines

scientiam desiderent, non tamen omnes

scientiae studium impendunt, quia ab aliisdetinentur, vel a voluptatibus, vel a

necessitatibus vitae praesentis, vel etiampropter pigritiam vitant laborem addiscendi.

Hoc autem proponit Aristoteles ut ostendat,

quod quaerere scientiam non propter aliud

utilem, qualis est haec scientia, non est

4. The third reason is that it is desirable foreach thing to be united to its source, since it is

in this that the perfection of each thing

consists. This is also the reason why circular

motion is the most perfect motion, as is provedin Book VIII of thePhysics, because its

terminus is united to its starting-point. Now it

is only by means of his intellect that man is

united to the separate substances, which arethe source of the human intellect and that to

which the human intellect is related as

something imperfect to something perfect. It isfor this reason, too, that the ultimate happiness

of man consists in this union. Therefore man

naturally desires to know. The fact that somemen do not devote any study to this science

does not disprove this thesis; for those who

desire some end are often prevented from

pursuing it for some reason or other, either

because of the difficulty of attaining it, orbecause of other occupations. And in this way,

too, even though all men desire knowledge,still not all devote themselves to the pursuit of

it because they are held back by other things,

either by pleasures or the needs of the present

life; or they may even avoid the effort that


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vanum, cum naturale desiderium vanum esse

non possit.

learning demands because they are lazy. Now

Aristotle makes this statement in order to showthat it is not pointless to search for a science

that is not useful for anything else, as happens

in the case of this science, since a naturaldesire cannot exist in vain.

Deinde ostendit quod proposuerat, per

signum: quia cum sensus ad duo nobis

deserviant; scilicet ad cognitionem rerum, etad utilitatem vitae; diliguntur a nobis propter

seipsos, inquantum cognoscitivi sunt, et etiam

propter hoc, quod utilitatem ad vitam

conferunt. Et hoc patet ex hoc, quod illesensus maxime ab omnibus diligitur, qui

magis cognoscitivus est, qui est visus, quemdiligimus non solum ad agendum aliquid, sed

etiam si nihil agere deberemus. Cuius causaest, quia iste sensus, scilicet visus, inter

omnes magis facit nos cognoscere, et plures

differentias rerum nobis demonstrat.

5. Then he establishes his thesis by means of

an example. Since our senses serve us in two

respects: in knowing things and in meeting theneeds of life, we love them for themselves

inasmuch as they enable us to know and also

assist us to live. This is evident from the fact

that all men take the greatest delight in thatsense which. is most knowing, i.e., the sense of

sight, which we value not merely in order todo something, but even when we are not

required to act at all. The reason is that thissensethat of sightis the most knowing ofall our senses and makes us aware of many

differences between things.

In quo manifestum est quod duaspraeeminentias visus in cognoscendo ad alios

sensus ponit. Unam quidem quia perfectius

cognoscit. Quod quidem visui accidit, eo

quod spiritualior est inter omnes sensus.Quanto enim aliqua vis cognoscitiva est

immaterialior, tanto est perfectior in

cognoscendo. Quod autem visus sitimmaterialior, patet si consideretur eius

immutatio, qua ab obiecto immutatur. Nam,

cum omnia alia sensibilia immutent organumet medium sensus secundum aliquam

materialem immutationem, sicut tactus

obiectum calefaciendo et infrigidando,

obiectum vero gustus, afficiendo sapore

aliquo organum gustus mediante saliva,obiectum autem auditus per motum

corporalem, obiectum autem odoratus perfumalem evaporationem, solum obiectum

visus non immutat nec organum nec medium

nisi spirituali immutatione. Non enim pupilla

nec aer coloratur, sed solum speciem coloris

6. In this part it is clear that he gives tworeasons why sight is superior to the other

senses in knowing. The first is that it knows in

a more perfect way; and this belongs to it

because it is the most spiritual of all thesenses. For the more immaterial a power is, the

more perfectly it knows. And evidently sight is

a more immaterial sense, if we consider themodification produced in it by its object. For

all other sensible objects change both the

organ and medium of a sense by a materialmodification, for example, the object of touch

by heating and cooling, the object of taste by

affecting the organ of taste with some flavor

through the medium of saliva, the object of

hearing by means of motion in the body, andthe object of smell by means of the

evaporation of volatile elements. But theobject of sight changes the organ and medium

of sight only by a spiritual modification;

because neither the pupil of the eye nor the air

becomes colored, but these only receive the


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recipiunt secundum esse spirituale. Quia

igitur sensus in actu consistit in actualiimmutatione sensus ab obiecto, manifestum

est illum sensum spiritualiorem esse in sua

operatione, qui immaterialius et spiritualiusimmutatur. Et ideo visus certius et perfectius

iudicat de sensibilibus inter alios sensus.

form of color in a spiritual mode of being.

Therefore, because actual sensation consists inthe actual modification of a sense by its object,

it is evident that that sense which is changed in

a more immaterial and spiritual way is morespiritual in its operation. Hence sight judges

about sensible objects in a more certain and

perfect way than the other senses do.

Aliam autem praeeminentiam ponit, quianobis plura demonstrat. Quod quidem accidit

ex ratione sui obiecti. Tactus enim et gustus,

et similiter odoratus et auditus sunt

cognoscitivi illorum accidentium, in quibusdistinguuntur inferiora corpora a

superioribus. Visus autem est cognoscitivusillorum accidentium, in quibus communicant

inferiora corpora cum superioribus. Namvisibile actu est aliquid per lucem, in qua

communicant inferiora corpora cum

superioribus, ut dicitur secundo de anima; etideo corpora caelestia solo visu sunt

sensibilia.

7. The other reason which he gives for thesuperiority of sight is that it gives us more

information about things. This is attributable to

the nature of its object, for touch and taste, and

likewise smell and hearing, perceive thoseaccidents by which lower bodies are

distinguished from higher ones. But sightperceives those accidents which lower bodies

have in common with higher ones. For a thingis actually visible by means of light, which is

common both to lower and higher bodies, as is

said in Book II of The Soul. Hence thecelestial bodies are perceptible only by means

of sight.

Est autem alia ratio, quia visus plures

differentias rerum demonstrat; quia sensibilia

corpora praecipue per visum et tactumcognoscere videmur, et adhuc magis per

visum. Cuius ratio ex hoc sumi potest: quod

alii tres sensus sunt cognoscitivi eorum quaea corpore sensibili quodammodo effluunt, et

non in ipso consistunt: sicut sonus est a

corpore sensibili, ut ab eo fluens et non in eomanens: et similiter fumalis evaporatio cum

qua et ex qua odor diffunditur. Visus autem et

tactus percipiunt illa accidentia quae rebus

ipsis immanent, sicut color et calidum et

frigidum. Unde iudicium tactus et visusextenditur ad res ipsas, iudicium autem

auditus et odoratus ad ea quae a rebus ipsisprocedunt, non ad res ipsas. Et inde est quod

figura et magnitudo et huiusmodi, quibus ipsa

res sensibilis disponitur, magis percipitur visu

et tactu, quam aliis sensibus. Et adhuc

8. There is also another reason. Sight informs

us of many differences between things, for we

seem to know sensible things best by means ofsight and touch, but especially by means of

sight. The reason for this can be drawn from

the fact that the other three senses perceivethose accidents which in a way flow from a

sensible body and do not remain in it. Thus

sound comes from a sensible body inasmuchas it flows away from it and does not remain in

it. The same thing is true of the evaporation of

volatile elements, with which and by which

odor is diffused. But sight and touch perceive

those accidents which remain in sensiblebodies, such as color, warmth and coldness.

Hence the judgment of sight and touch isextended to things themselves, whereas the

judgment of hearing and smell is extended to

those accidents which flow from things and

not to things themselves. It is for this reason


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amplius magis visu quam tactu, tum propter

hoc quod visus habet maiorem efficaciam adcognoscendum, ut dictum est, tum propter

hoc, quod quantitas et ea quae ad ipsam

sequuntur, quae videntur esse sensibiliacommunia, proximius se habent ad obiectum

visus quam ad obiectum tactus. Quod ex hoc

patet, quod obiectum visus omne corpus

habens aliquam quantitatem aliquo modoconsequitur, non autem obiectum tactus.

that figure and size and the like, by which a

sensible being itself is disposed, are perceivedmore by sight and touch than by the other

senses. And they are perceived more by sight

than by touch, both because sight knows moreefficaciously, as has been pointed out (C 6),

and also because quantity and those

[accidents] which naturally follow from it,

which are seen to be the common sensibles,are more closely related to the object of sight

than to that of touch. This is clear from the fact

that the object of sight belongs in some degree

to every body having some quantity, whereasthe object of touch does not.

9. Animals by nature, then(2).

Deinde cum dicit animalia quidem

prosequitur de ordine cognitionis. Et primoquantum ad bruta animalia. Secundo quantum

ad homines, ibi, alia quidem igitur et cetera.

Here he considers the hierarchy in knowledge.

He does this, first (9), with respect to bruteanimals; and, then (14), with respect to men

(Thus other animals).

Circa vero bruta animalia tangit primo

quidem id in quo omnia animalia

communicant. Secundo id in quo animaliadifferunt, et seinvicem excedunt, ibi, ex

sensibus.

With respect to brute animals he mentions first

what all animals have in common; and second

(10), that by which they differ and surpass oneanother (Now in some animals).

Communicant autem omnia animalia in hoc

quod naturaliter sensus habent. Nam ex hocanimal est animal, quod habet animam

sensitivam, quae natura est animalis, sicut

forma unicuique propria est natura eius.Quamvis autem omnia animalia sensum

habeant naturaliter, non tamen omnia habent

omnes sensus, sed solum perfecta. Omnia

vero habent sensum tactus. Ipse enim estquodammodo fundamentum omnium aliorum

sensuum. Non autem habent omnia sensum

visus, quia sensus visus est omnibus aliisperfectior in cognoscendo, sed tactus magis

necessarius. Est enim cognoscitivus eorum,

ex quibus animal constat, scilicet calidi,

Now all animals are alike in the respect that

they possess by nature the power of sensation.For an animal is an animal by reason of the

fact that it has a sentient soul, which is the

nature of an animal in the sense in which thedistinctive form of each thing is its nature. But

even though all animals are naturally endowed

with sensory power, not all animals have all

the senses, but only perfect animals. All havethe sense of touch, for this sense in a way is

the basis of all the other senses. However, not

all have the sense of sight, because this senseknows in a more perfect way than all the other

senses. But touch is more necessary; for it

perceives the elements of which an animal is


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frigidi, humidi et sicci. Unde sicut visus inter

omnes est perfectior in cognoscendo, itatactus est magis necessarius, utpote primus

existens in via generationis. Ea enim quae

sunt perfectiora, secundum hanc viam, suntposteriora respectu illius individui, quod de

imperfecto ad perfectionem movetur.

composed, namely, the hot, cold, moist and

dry. Hence, just as sight knows in a moreperfect way than the other senses, in a similar

way touch is more necessary inasmuch as it is

the first to exist in the process of generation.For those things which are more perfect

according to this process come later in the

development of the individual which is moved

from a state of imperfection to one ofperfection.

10. Now in some animals(3).

Deinde cum dicit ex sensibus ponit

diversitatem cognitionis, quae est in brutis: et

tangit etiam tres gradus cognitionis inhuiusmodi animalibus. Quaedam enim sunt,

quae licet sensum habeant, non tamen habent

memoriam, quae ex sensu fit. Memoria enimsequitur phantasiam, quae est motus factus a

sensu secundum actum, ut habetur in secundo

de anima. In quibusdam vero animalibus ex

sensu non fit phantasia, et sic in eis nonpotest esse memoria: et huiusmodi sunt

animalia imperfecta, quae sunt immobilia

secundum locum, ut conchilia. Cum enim

animalibus cognitio sensitiva sit provisiva advitae necessitatem et ad propriam

operationem, animalia illa memoriam habere

debent, quae moventur ad distans motuprogressivo: nisi enim apud ea remaneret per

memoriam intentio praeconcepta, ex qua ad

motum inducuntur, motum continuare nonpossent quousque finem intentum

consequerentur. Animalibus vero

immobilibus sufficit ad proprias operationes,

praesentis sensibilis acceptio, cum ad distans

non moveantur; et ideo sola imaginationeconfusa habent aliquem motum

indeterminatum, ut dicitur tertio de anima.

Here he indicates the different kinds and three

levels of knowing found among brute animals.

For there are certain animals which havesensation, although they do not have memory

which comes from sensation. For memory

accompanies imagination, which is amovement caused by the senses in their act of

sensing, as we find in Book II of The Soul. But

in some animals imagination does not

accompany sensation, and therefore memorycannot exist in them. This is found verified in

imperfect animals which are incapable of local

motion, such as shellfish. For since sensory

cognition enables animals to make provisionfor the necessities of life and to perform their

characteristic operations, then those animals

which move towards something at a distanceby means of local motion must have memory.

For if the anticipated goal by which they are

induced to move did not remain in themthrough memory, they could not continue to

move toward the intended goal which they

pursue. But in the case of immobile animals

the reception of a present sensible quality is

sufficient for them to perform theircharacteristic operations, since they do not

move toward anything at a distance. Hencethese animals have an indefinite movement as

a result of confused [or indeterminate]

imagination alone, as he points out in Book III

of The Soul.


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Ex hoc autem, quod quaedam animalia

memoriam habent, et quaedam non habent,sequitur quod quaedam sunt prudentia et

quaedam non. Cum enim prudentia ex

praeteritorum memoria de futuris provideat(unde secundum Tullium in secundo

rhetoricae, partes eius ponuntur memoria,

intelligentia, et providentia), in illis

animalibus prudentia esse non potest, quimemoria carent. Illa vero animalia, quae

memoriam habent, aliquid prudentiae habere

possunt. Dicitur autem prudentia aliter in

brutis animalibus, et aliter hominibus inesse.In hominibus quidem est prudentia secundum

quod ex ratione deliberant quid eos oporteat

agere; unde dicitur sexto Ethicorum, quod

prudentia est recta ratio agibilium. Iudiciumautem de rebus agendis non ex rationis

deliberatione, sed ex quodam naturaeinstinctu, prudentia in aliis animalibus dicitur.

Unde prudentia in aliis animalibus est

naturalis aestimatio de convenientibus

prosequendis, et fugiendis nocivis, sicutagnus sequitur matrem et fugit lupum.

11. Again, from the fact that some animals

have memory and some do not, it follows thatsome are prudent and some not. For, since

prudence makes provision for the future from

memory of the past (and this is the reason whyTully in hisRhetoric, Book II, makes memory,

understanding and foresight parts of

prudence), prudence cannot be had by those

animals which lack memory. Now thoseanimals which have memory can have some

prudence, although prudence has one meaning

in the case of brute animals and another in the

case of man. Men are prudent inasmuch asthey deliberate rationally about what they

ought to do. Hence it is said in Book VI of

theEthics, that prudence is a rationally

regulated plan of things to be done. But thejudgment about things to be done which is not

a result of any rational deliberation but ofsome natural instinct is called prudence in

other animals. Hence in other animals

prudence is a natural estimate about the pursuit

of what is fitting and the avoidance of what isharmful, as a lamb follows its mother and runs

away from a wolf .

Inter ea vero, quae memoriam habent,quaedam habent auditum et quaedam non.Quaecumque autem auditum non habent, ut

apes, vel si quod aliud huiusmodi animal est,

licet prudentiam habere possint, non tamen

sunt disciplinabilia, ut scilicet per alteriusinstructionem possint assuescere ad aliquid

faciendum vel vitandum: huiusmodi enim

instructio praecipue recipitur per auditum:unde dicitur in libro de sensu et sensato, quod

auditus est sensus disciplinae. Quod autem

dicitur apes auditum non habere, nonrepugnat ei, quod videntur ex quibusdamsonis exterreri. Nam sicut sonus vehemens

occidit animal, et scindit lignum, ut in

tonitruo patet, non propter sonum, sed proptercommotionem aeris vehementem in quo est

sonus: ita animalia, quae auditu carent,

iudicium de sonis non habendo possunt per

12. But among those animals which havememory some have hearing and some do not.And all those which cannot hear (as the bee or

any other similar type of animal that may

exist), even though they have prudence, are

still incapable of being taught, i.e., in the sensethat they can be habituated to the doing or

avoiding of something through someone elsesinstruction, because such instruction isreceived chiefly by means of hearing. Hence

in The Senses and Their Objectsit is stated

that hearing is the sense by which we receiveinstruction. Furthermore, the statement thatbees do not have hearing is not opposed in any

way to the observation that they are frightened

by certain sounds. For just as a very loudsound kills an animal and splits wood, as is

evident in the case of thunder, not because of

the sound but because of the violent motion of


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sonos aereos exterreri. Illa vero animalia,

quae memoriam et auditum habent, etdisciplinabilia et prudentia esse possunt.

the air in which the sound is present, in a

similar fashion those animals which lackhearing can be frightened by the sounding air

even though they have no perception of sound.

However, those animals which have bothmemory and hearing can be both prudent and

teachable.

Patet igitur tres esse gradus cognitionis in

animalibus. Primus est eorum, quae necauditum nec memoriam habent: unde nec

disciplinabilia sunt, nec prudentia. Secundus

est eorum quae habent memoriam, sed non

auditum; unde sunt prudentia, et nondisciplinabilia. Tertius est eorum, quae

utrumque habent, et sunt prudentia etdisciplinabilia. Quartus autem modus esse

non potest, ut scilicet sit aliquod animal, quodhabeat auditum, et non habeat memoriam.

Sensus enim, qui per exterius medium suum

sensibile apprehendunt, inter quos est auditus,non sunt nisi in animalibus quae moventur

motu progressivo, quibus memoria deesse

non potest, ut dictum est.

13. It is evident, then, that there are three

levels of knowing in animals. The first level isthat had by animals which have neither hearing

nor memory, and which are therefore neither

capable of being taught nor of being prudent.

The second level is that of animals which havememory but are unable to hear, and which are

therefore prudent but incapable of beingtaught. The third level is that of animals which

have both of these faculties, and which aretherefore prudent and capable of being taught.

Moreover, there cannot be a fourth level, so

that there would be an animal which hadhearing but lacked memory. For those senses

which perceive their sensible objects by means

of an external mediumand hearing is one oftheseare found only in animals which havelocomotion and which cannot do without

memory, as has been pointed out (10).

14. Thus other animals(4).

Deinde cum dicit alia quidem ostendit gradus

cognitionis humanae. Et circa hoc duo facit.Primo namque ostendit in quo cognitio

humana excedit praedictorum cognitionem.

Secundo ostendit quomodo humana cognitio

per diversos gradus distribuatur, ibi, fit autemex memoria.

Here he explains the levels of human knowing;

and in regard to this he does two things. First(14), he explains how human knowing

surpasses the knowing of the abovementioned

animals. Second (17), he shows how human

knowing is divided into different levels (Nowin men).

Dicit ergo in prima parte, quod vita

animalium regitur imaginatione et memoria:imaginatione quidem, quantum ad animalia

imperfecta; memoria vero quantum ad

animalia perfecta. Licet enim et haec

Accordingly, in the first part (4) he says that

the life of animals is ruled by imagination andmemory: by imagination in the case of

imperfect animals, and by memory in the case

of perfect animals. For even though the latter


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imaginationem habeant, tamen unumquodque

regi dicitur ab eo quod est principalius inipso. Vivere autem hic non accipitur

secundum quod est esse viventis, sicut

accipitur in secundo de anima: cum dicitur,vivere viventibus est esse. Nam huiusmodi

vivere animalis non est ex memoria et

imaginatione, sed praecedit utrumque.

Accipitur autem vivere pro actione vitae,sicut et conversationem hominum vitam

dicere solemus. In hoc vero, quod

cognitionem animalium determinat per

comparationem ad regimen vitae, daturintelligi quod cognitio inest ipsis animalibus

non propter ipsum cognoscere, sed propter

necessitatem actionis.

also have imagination, still each thing is said

to be ruled by that [power] which holds thehighest place within it. Now in this discussion

life does not mean the being of a living thing,

as it is understood in Book II of The Soul,

when he says that for living things to live isto be; for the life of an animal in this sense isnot a result of memory or imagination but is

prior to both of these. But life is taken to meanvital activity, just as we are also accustomed to

speak of association as the life of men. But by

the fact that he establishes the truth about the

cognition of animals with reference to themanagement of life, we are given to

understand that knowing belongs to these

animals, not for the sake of knowing, but

because of the need for action.

Supra memoriam autem in hominibus, ut

infra dicetur, proximum est experimentum,

quod quaedam animalia non participant nisiparum. Experimentum enim est ex collatione

plurium singularium in memoria receptorum.

Huiusmodi autem collatio est homini propria,

et pertinet ad vim cogitativam, quae ratioparticularis dicitur: quae est collativa

intentionum individualium, sicut ratiouniversalis intentionum universalium. Et,quia ex multis sensibus et memoria animalia

ad aliquid consuescunt prosequendum vel

vitandum, inde est quod aliquid experimenti,

licet parum, participare videntur. Hominesautem supra experimentum, quod pertinet ad

rationem particularem, habent rationem

universalem, per quam vivunt, sicut per idquod est principale in eis.

15. Now, as is stated below (18), in men the

next thing above memory is experience, which

some animals have only to a small degree. Foran experience arises from the association of

many singular [intentions] received in

memory. And this kind of association is proper

to man, and pertains to the cogitative power(also called particular reason), which

associates particular intentions just asuniversal reason associates universal ones.Now since animals are accustomed to pursue

or avoid certain things as a result of many

sensations and memory, for this reason they

seem to share something of experience, eventhough it be slight. But above experience,

which belongs to particular reason, men have

as their chief power a universal reason bymeans of which they live.

Sicut autem se habet experimentum adrationem particularem, et consuetudo ad

memoriam in animalibus, ita se habet ars adrationem universalem. Ideo sicut perfectum

vitae regimen est animalibus per memoriam

adiuncta assuefactione ex disciplina, vel

quomodolibet aliter, ita perfectum hominis

16. And just as experience is related toparticular reason [in men], and customary

activity to memory in animals, in a similar wayart is related to universal reason. Therefore,

just as the life of animals is ruled in a perfect

way by memory together with activity that has

become habitual through training, or in any


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regimen est per rationem arte perfectam.

Quidam tamen ratione sine arte reguntur; sedhoc est regimen imperfectum.

other way whatsoever, in a similar way man is

ruled perfectly by reason perfected by art.Some men, however, are ruled by reason

without art; but this rule is imperfect.

17. Now in men(5).

Deinde cum dicit fit autem ostendit diversos

gradus humanae cognitionis. Et circa hoc duofacit. Primo comparat experimentum ad artem

quidem. Secundo comparat artem

speculativam ad activam, ibi, primum igitur

conveniens et cetera.

Here he explains the different levels of human

knowing; and in regard to this he does twothings. First (17), he compares art with

experience; and, second (31), he compares

speculative art with practical art (It is onlyfitting).

Circa primum duo facit. Primo ostendit

generationem artis et experimenti. Secundo

praeeminentiam unius ad alterum, ibi, ad

agere quidem igitur et cetera.

He treats the first point in two ways. First, he

explains how art and experience originate.

Second (20), he explains how one is superiorto the other (In practical matters).

Circa primum duo facit. Primo proponit

utriusque praedictorum generationem.

Secundo manifestat per exemplum, ibi,

acceptionem quidem enim et cetera.


he explains how each of the above originates.

Second (18), he makes this clear by means ofan example (For to judge).

Circa primum duo facit. Primo ponit

generationem experimenti. Secundo artisgenerationem ibi, hominibus autem et cetera.


he describes how experience originates, andsecond (18), how art originates (But in men,science).

Dicit ergo primo, quod ex memoria inhominibus experimentum causatur. Modus

autem causandi est iste; quia ex multis

memoriis unius rei accipit homoexperimentum de aliquo, quo experimento

potens est ad facile et recte operandum. Et

ideo quia potentiam recte et faciliter operandipraebet experimentum, videtur fere essesimile arti et scientiae. Est enim similitudo eo

quod utrobique ex multis una acceptio

alicuius rei sumitur. Dissimilitudo autem,quia per artem accipiuntur universalia, per

experimentum singularia, ut postea dicetur.

He says first (5), then, that in men experienceis caused by memory. The way in which it is

caused is this: from several memories of a

single thing a man acquires experience aboutsome matter, and by means of this experience

he is able to act easily and correctly.

Therefore, because experience provides uswith the ability to act easily and correctly, itseems to be almost the same as science and art.

For they are alike inasmuch as in either case

from many instances a single view of a thing isobtained. But they differ inasmuch as

universals are grasped by art and singular

things by experience, as is stated later (18).


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Deinde cum dicit hominibus autem ponit

generationem artis: et dicit, quod exexperientia in hominibus fit scientia et ars: et

probat per auctoritatem Poli, qui dicit, quod

experientia facit artem, sed inexperientiacasum. Quando enim aliquis inexpertus recte

operatur, a casu est. Modus autem, quo ars fit

ex experimento, est idem cum modo

praedicto, quo experimentum fit ex memoria.Nam sicut ex multis memoriis fit una

experimentalis scientia, ita ex multis

experimentis apprehensis fit universalis

acceptio de omnibus similibus. Unde plushabet hoc ars quam experimentum: quia

experimentum tantum circa singularia

versatur, ars autem circa universalia.

18. But in men science and art (6). Here he

describes the way in which art arises. He saysthat in men science and art come from

experience, and he proves this on the authority

of Polus, who says that Experience causes artand inexperience luck. For when aninexperienced person acts correctly, this

happens by chance. Furthermore, the way in

which art arises from experience is the same asthe way spoken of above in which experience

arises from memory. For just as one

experiential cognition comes from many

memories of a thing, so does one universaljudgment about all similar things come from

the apprehension of many experiences. Hence

art has this [unified view] more than

experience, because experience is concernedonly with singulars, whereas art has to do with

universals.

Quod consequenter per exempla exponit, cumdicit, acceptionem quidem etc.: quia cum

homo accepit in sua cognitione quod haec

medicina contulit Socrati et Platoni tali

infirmitate laborantibus, et multis aliissingularibus, quidquid sit illud, hoc ad

experientiam pertinet: sed, cum aliquisaccipit, quod hoc omnibus conferat in talispecie aegritudinis determinata, et secundum

talem complexionem, sicut quod contulit

febricitantibus et phlegmaticis et cholericis,

id iam ad artem pertinet.

19. Thereupon he makes this clear by means ofexamples (But in men). For when a man haslearned that this medicine has been beneficial

to Socrates and Plato, and to many other

individuals who were suffering from someparticular disease, whatever it may be, this is a

matter of experience; but when a man learnsthat this particular treatment is beneficial to Amen who have some particular kind of disease

and some particular kind of physical

constitution, as it has benefited the feverish,

both the phlegmatic and the bilious, this is nowa matter of art.

20. In practical matters(7).

Deinde cum dicit ad agere comparat artem ad

experimentum per modum praeeminentiae. Et

secundum hoc duo facit. Primo comparatquantum ad actionem. Secundo quantum ad

cognitionem, ibi, sed tamen scire et cetera.

He compares art to experience from the

viewpoint of pre-eminence; and in regard to

this he does two things. First (20), hecompares them from the viewpoint of action;

and, second (23), from the viewpoint ofknowledge (Yet we think).


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Dicit ergo, quod quantum ad actum pertinet,

experientia nihil videtur differre ab arte. Cumenim ad actionem venitur, tollitur differentia,

quae inter experimentum et artem erat per

universale et singulare: quia sicutexperimentum circa singularia operatur, ita et

ars; unde praedicta differentia erat in

cognoscendo tantum. Sed quamvis in modo

operandi ars et experimentum non differant,quia utraque circa singularia operatur,

differunt tamen in efficacia operandi. Nam

experti magis proficiunt in operando illis qui

habent rationem universalem artis sineexperimento.

He says then that in practical matters

experience seems to differ in no way from art;for when it comes to acting, the difference

between experience and art, which is a

difference between the universal and thesingular, disappears, because art operates with

reference to singulars just as experience does.

Therefore the aforesaid difference pertains

only to the way in which they come to know.But even though art and experience do not

differ in the way in which they act, because

both act on singular things, nevertheless they

differ in the effectiveness of their action. Formen of experience act more effectively than

those who have the universal knowledge of an

art but lack experience.

Cujus causa est, quia actiones sunt circasingularia, et singularium sunt omnes

generationes. Universalia enim non

generantur nec moventur nisi per accidens,inquantum hoc singularibus competit. Homo

enim generatur hoc homine generato. Unde

medicus non sanat hominem nisi per

accidens; sed per se sanat Platonem autSocratem, aut aliquem hominem singulariter

dictum, cui convenit esse hominem, velaccidit inquantum est curatus. Quamvis enimesse hominem per se conveniat Socrati,

tamen curato et medicato per accidens

convenit: haec est enim per se, Socrates est

homo: quia si Socrates definiretur, ponereturhomo in eius definitione, ut in quarto dicetur.

Sed haec est per accidens, curatus vel sanatus

est homo.

21. The reason is that actions have to do withsingular things, and all processes of generation

belong to singular things. For universals are

generated or moved only by reason ofsomething else, inasmuch as this belongs to

singular things. For man is generated when

this man is generated. Hence a physician heals

man only incidentally, but properly he healsPlato or Socrates, or some man that can be

individually named, to whom the nature manbelongs, or rather to whom it is accidentalinasmuch as he is the one healed. For even

though the nature man belongs essentially to

Socrates, still it belongs only accidentally to

the one healed or cured; for the propositionSocrates is a man is an essential one,because, if Socrates were defined, man would

be given in his definition, as will be said belowin Book IV. But the proposition What ishealed or cured is man is an accidental one.

Unde cum ars sit universalium, experientia

singularium, si aliquis habet rationem artissine experientia, erit quidem perfectus in hoc

quod universale cognoscat; sed quia ignorat

singulare cum experimento careat, multotiens

in curando peccabit: quia curatio magis

22. Hence, since art has to do with universals

and experience with singulars, if anyone hasthe theoretical knowledge of an art but lacks

experience, he will be perfect insofar as he

knows the universal; but since he does not

know the singular, because he lacks


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another reading expresses this meaning moreclearly, saying: Implying that all pursuewisdom more with respect to knowing.

24. Now this is(9).

Consequenter cum dicit hoc autem probat

praedictam praeeminentiam tripliciter. Prima

probatio talis est. Illi, qui sciunt causam etpropter quid, scientiores sunt et sapientiores

illis qui ignorant causam, sed solum sciunt

quia. Experti autem sciunt quia, sed nesciunt

propter quid. Artifices vero sciunt causam, etpropter quid, et non solum quia: ergo

sapientiores et scientiores sunt artifices

expertis.

Then he proves the superiority of art and

science mentioned above, and he does this by

means of three arguments. The first runs thus:those who know the cause and reason why a

thing is so are more knowing and wiser than

those who merely know that it is so but do not

know why. Now men of experience know thatsomething is so but do not know the reason,

whereas men who have an art know not merely

that something is so but also know its causeand reason. Hence those who have an art are

wiser and more knowing than those who have

experience.

25. For this reason too(9).

Primo primam probat cum dicit, unde etarchitectores et cetera. Probatio talis est. Illi

qui sciunt causam et propter quid

comparantur ad scientes tantum quia, sicutarchitectonicae artes ad artes artificum manu

operantium. Sed architectonicae artes sunt

nobiliores: ergo et illi qui sciunt causas et

propter quid, sunt scientiores et sapientioresscientibus tantum quia.

Here he proves the first aspect of superiority,and this runs as follows. Those who know the

cause and reason why a thing is so are

compared to those who merely know that it isso as the architectonic arts are to the arts of

manual laborers. But the architectonic arts are

nobler. In a similar way, then, those who know

the causes and reasons of things are moreknowing than those who merely know that

things are so.

Huius probationis prima ex hoc apparet, quia

architectores sciunt causas factorum. Ad

cuius intellectum sciendum est, quod

architector dicitur quasi principalis artifex: abarchos quod est princeps, et techne quod est

ars. Dicitur autem ars principalior illa, quaeprincipaliorem operationem habet.

Operationes autem artificum hoc modo

distinguuntur: quia quaedam sunt addisponendum materiam artificii, sicut

26. The first part of this proof becomes clear

from the fact that architects, or master artists,

know the causes of the things that are done. In

order to understand this we must note thatarchitect means chief artist, from meaning chief, and meaning art. Nowthat art is said to be a chief art which performs

a more important operation. Indeed, the

operations of artists are distinguished in thisway; for some operations are directed to


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carpentarii secando ligna et complanando

disponunt materiam ad formam navis. Aliaest operatio ad inductionem formae; sicut

cum aliquis ex lignis dispositis et praeparatis

navem compaginat. Alia est operatio in usumrei iam constitutae; et ista est principalissima.

Prima autem est infima, quia prima ordinatur

ad secundam, et secunda ad tertiam. Unde

navisfactor est architector respectu eius quipraeparat ligna. Gubernator autem, qui utitur

navi iam facta, est architector respectu navis

factoris.

disposing the material of the artifact.

Carpenters, for example, by cutting andplaning the wood, dispose matter for the form

of a ship. Another operation is directed to

introducing this form into the matter, forexample, when someone builds a ship out of

wood which has been disposed and prepared.

A third operation is directed to the use of the

finished product, and this is the highestoperation. But the first operation is the lowest

because it is directed to the second and the

second to the third. Hence the shipbuilder is a

superior artist compared with the one whoprepares the wood; and the navigator, who

uses the completed ship, is a superior artist

compared with the shipbuilder.

Et, quia materia est propter formam, et talisdebet esse materia quae formae competat,

ideo navisfactor scit causam, quare ligna

debeant esse sic disposita; quod nesciunt illiqui praeparant ligna. Similiter, cum tota navis

sit propter usum ipsius, ille qui navi utitur,

scit quare talis forma debeat esse; ad hoc

enim debet talis esse, ut tali usui convenienssit. Et sic patet, quod ex forma artificii

sumitur causa operationum, quae sunt circadispositionem materiae. Et ex usu sumiturcausa operationum, quae sunt circa formam

artificiati.

27. Further, since matter exists for the sake ofform, and ought to be such as to befit the form,

the shipbuilder knows the reason why the

wood should be shaped in some particularway; but those who prepare the wood do not

know this. And in a similar way, since the

completed ship exists in order to be used, the

one who uses the ship knows why it shouldhave some particular form; for the form should

be one that befits its use. Thus it is evident thatthe reason for the operations which dispose thematter is taken from the design of the product

in the artists mind, and the reason for theoperations which produce the form of the

artifact is taken from the use [to which theartifact is put].

Et sic manifestum est, quod architectores

factorum causas sciunt. Illos vero, scilicet

manu artifices, iudicamus vel denominamus,

sicut quaedam inanimatorum. Et hoc non ideoquia faciunt operationes artificiales, sed quia

quae faciunt, incognita faciunt. Sciunt enimquia, sed causas non cognoscunt; sicut etiam

ignis exurit absque aliqua cognitione. Est

igitur quantum ad hoc similitudo inter

inanimata et manu artifices, quod sicut

28. It is evident, then, that the master artists

know the causes of the things which are done.

In fact we judge and speak about the others,

i.e., the manual laborers, as we do aboutcertain inanimate things. This is not because

they do not perform artful operations, butbecause the things which they do they do

without knowing the cause; for they know that

something is to be done but not why it is, just

as fire burns without knowing why. Hence


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absque causae cognitione inanimata operantur

ut ordinata ab aliquo superiori intellectu inproprium finem, ita et manu artifices. Sed in

hoc est differentia: quia inanimata faciunt

unumquodque suorum operum per naturam,sed manu artifices per consuetudinem: quae

licet vim naturae habeat inquantum ad unum

inclinat determinate, tamen a natura differt in

hoc, quod est circa ea quae sunt ad utrumlibetsecundum humanam cognitionem. Naturalia

enim non consuescimus, sicut dicitur in

secundo Ethicorum. Nec etiam cognitione

carentium est consuescere. Haec autem quaedicta sunt, sic sunt consideranda tamquam ex

eis appareat, quod aliqui non sunt

sapientiores secundum quod est practicos, id

est operatores esse, quod convenit expertis;sed secundum quod aliqui habent rationem de

agendis, et cognoscunt causas agendorum, exquibus rationes sumuntur: quod convenit

architectoribus.

there is a likeness between inanimate things

and manual laborers from this point of view,that, just as inanimate things act without

knowing the causes, inasmuch as they are

directed to their proper end by a superiorintellect, so also do manual laborers. But they

differ in this respect, that inanimate things

perform each of their operations as a result of

their nature, whereas manual laborers performtheirs through habit. And while habit is

practically the same as nature inasmuch as it is

inclined to one definite effect, still habit differs

from nature inasmuch as it is open to oppositesby reason of human knowledge. For we do not

habituate natural bodies, as is stated in Book II

of theEthics; nor, indeed, is it possible to

cause habits in things that lack knowledge.Now the statements that have been made, as is

evident from the statements themselves, mustbe interpreted as meaning that some men are

wiser, not insofar as they are practical, i .e.,men of action, as befits men of experience, but

insofar as they have a plan for things to bedone and know their causes, which are the

basis of such a plan; and this befits master

artists.

29. In general a sign of scientific

knowledge(10).

Deinde cum dicit et omnino ponit secundam

rationem: quae talis est. Signum scientis est

posse docere: quod ideo est, quiaunumquodque tunc est perfectum in actu suo,

quando potest facere alterum sibi simile, ut

dicitur quarto Meteororum. Sicut igitur

signum caliditatis est quod possit aliquid

calefacere, ita signum scientis est, quod possitdocere, quod est scientiam in alio causare.

Artifices autem docere possunt, quia cumcausas cognoscant, ex eis possunt

demonstrare: demonstratio autem est

syllogismus faciens scire, ut dicitur primo

posteriorum. Experti autem non possunt

Here he gives the second argument, which is

as follows: a sign of knowledge is the ability to

teach, and this is so because each thing isperfect in its activity when it can produce

another thing similar to itself, as is said in

Book IV ofMeteors. Therefore, just as the

possession of heat is indicated by the fact that

a thing can heat something else, in a similarway the possession of knowledge is indicated

by the fact that one can teach, that is, causeknowledge in another. But men who have an

art can teach, for since they know causes they

can demonstrate from these; and

demonstration is a syllogism which produces


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docere, quia non possunt ad scientiam

perducere cum causam ignorent. Et si ea quaeexperimento cognoscunt aliis tradant, non

recipientur per modum scientiae, sed per

modum opinionis vel credulitatis. Unde patetquod artifices sunt magis sapientes et scientes

expertis.

knowledge, as is said in Book I of

thePosterior Analytics. But men who haveexperience [only] cannot teach; for since they

do not know the causes, they cannot cause

knowledge in someone else. And if they doteach others the things which they know by

experience, these things are not learned after

the manner of scientific knowledge but after

that of opinion or belief. Hence, it is clear thatmen who have an art are wiser and more

knowing than those who have experience.

30. Furthermore, we do not hold(11).

Deinde cum dicit amplius autem ponit tertiam

rationem; quae talis est. Cognitionessingularium magis sunt propriae sensibus

quam alicui alteri cognitioni, cum omnis

cognitio singularium a sensu oriatur. Sedtamen, nec unum, idest nullum sensum

dicimus sapientiam, scilicet propter hoc quod

licet aliquis sensus cognoscat quia, tamen,

non propter quid cognoscit. Tactus enimiudicat quod ignis calidus est, non tamen

apprehendit propter quid: ergo experti qui

habent singularium cognitionem causam

ignorantes, sapientes dici non possunt.

Here he gives the third argument, which is as

follows: knowing singular things is proper tothe senses rather than to any other type of

knowing [power], since our entire knowledge

of singular things originates with the senses.Yet we do not hold that any one of these,i.e., any one of the senses, is wisdom, because

even though each sense knows that a thing is

so, it does not know why it is so; for touchjudges that fire is hot but does not know why it

is hot. Therefore men of experience, who have

a knowledge of singular things but do not

know their causes, cannot be called wise men.

31. It is only fitting(12).

Deinde cum dicit primum quidem comparat

artem activam speculativae. Et circa hoc duo

facit. Primo ostendit, quod ars speculativamagis est sapientia quam activa. Secundo

respondet cuidam obiectioni, ibi, in

moralibus.

Here he compares practical art with

speculative art; and in regard to this he does

three things. First (20), he shows that aspeculative art is wisdom to a greater degree

than a practical art. Second (ibid.), he answers

an objection (The difference).

Ostendit autem quod primo dictum est, tali

ratione. In quibuscumque scientiis vel artibusinvenitur id propter quod homines scientes

prae aliis hominibus in admiratione vel

honore habentur, illae scientiae sunt magishonorabiles, et magis dignae nomine

He proves his first statement by this argument:

in any of the sciences or arts we find that menwith scientific knowledge are more admired

and are held in higher esteem than all other

men, because their knowledge is held to benobler and more worthy of the name of


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sapientiae. Quilibet autem inventor artis

habetur in admiratione, propter hoc quodhabet sensum et iudicium et discretionem

causae ultra aliorum hominum sensum, et non

propter utilitatem illorum quae invenit: sedmagis admiramur, sicut sapientem et ab aliis

distinguentem. Sapientem quidem, quantum

ad subtilem inquisitionem causarum rei

inventae: distinguentem vero, quantum adinvestigationem differentiarum unius rei ad

aliam. Vel aliter, ab aliis distinguentem, ut

passive legatur, quasi in hoc ab aliis

distinguatur. Unde alia litera habet,differentem. Ergo scientiae aliquae sunt

magis admirabiles et magis dignae nomine

sapientiae propter eminentiorem sensum, et

non propter utilitatem.

wisdom. Now the discoverer of any art at all is

admired because he perceives, judges anddiscerns a cause beyond the perceptions of

other men, and not because of the usefulnessof his discoveries. We admire him rather asbeing wise, and as distinguishing [a thing]

from others. As being wise, indeed, in thesubtle way in which he investigates the causes

of his discoveries, and as distinguishing [athing] from others insofar as he investigates

the ways in which one thing differs from

another. Or, according to anotherinterpretation, as being distinct from theothers is to be read passively, as beingdistinguished in this respect from others.Hence another text has one who is different.Some sciences, then, are more admirable andworthy of the name of wisdom because their

observations are more outstanding, notbecause they are useful.

Cum igitur plures artes sint repertae quantum

ad utilitatem, quarum quaedam sunt ad vitae

necessitatem, sicut mechanicae; quaedam

vero ad introductionem in aliis scientiis, sicutscientiae logicales: illi artifices dicendi sunt

sapientiores, quorum scientiae non sunt adutilitatem inventae, sed propter ipsum scire,cuiusmodi sunt scientiae speculativae.

32. Therefore, since many useful arts have

been discovered (some to provide the

necessities of life, as the mechanical arts, and

others to introduce us to the sciences, as thelogical disciplines), those artists must be said

to be wiser whose sciences were discoverednot for the sake of utility but merely for thesake of knowing, that is to say, the speculative

sciences.

Et quod speculativae scientiae non sint

inventae ad utilitatem, patet per hoc signum:quia, iam partis, id est acquisitis vel repertis

omnibus huiusmodi, quae possunt esse ad

introductionem in scientiis, vel ad

necessitatem vitae, vel ad voluptatem, sicut

artes quae sunt ordinatae ad hominumdelectationem: speculativae non sunt propter

huiusmodi repertae, sed propter seipsas. Etquod non sint ad utilitatem inventae, patet ex

loco quo inventae sunt. In locis enim illis

primo repertae sunt, ubi primo homines

studuerunt circa talia. Alia litera habet, et

33. That the speculative sciences were not

discovered for the sake of utility is made clearby this fact, that after all sciences of this kind

had already been developed, i.e., acquired ordiscovered, which can serve as introductions to

the other sciences, or provide the necessities of

life, or give pleasure (as those arts whoseobject is to delight man), the speculative

sciences were discovered, not for this kind ofend, but for their own sake. The fact that they

were not discovered for the sake of utility

becomes evident from the place in which they

were discovered. For they originated in those


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primum his locis ubi vacabant, id est ab aliis

occupationibus quiescentes studio vacabantquasi necessariis abundantes. Unde et circa

Aegyptum primo inventae sunt artes

mathematicae, quae sunt maximespeculativae, a sacerdotibus, qui sunt

concessi studio vacare, et de publico

expensas habebant, sicut etiam legitur in

Genesi.

places where men first applied themselves tosuch things. Another version reads, And firstin those places where men had leisure, i.e.,they had time for study because they were

released from other occupations as a result ofthe abundance of things necessary [for life].

Hence the mathematical arts, which are

speculative in the highest degree, were first

discovered in Egypt by the priests, who weregiven time for study, and whose expenses were

defrayed by the community, as we also read in

Genesis (47:22)

Sed quia usus nomine artis fuerat etsapientiae et scientiae quasi indifferenter, ne

aliquis putet haec omnia esse nominasynonyma idem penitus significantia hanc

opinionem removet, et remittit ad librumMoralium, idest ad sextum Ethicorum, ubi

dictum est, in quo differant scientia et ars et

sapientia et prudentia et intellectus. Et utbreviter dicatur, sapientia et scientia et

intellectus sunt circa partem animae

speculativam, quam ibi scientificum animae

appellat. Differunt autem, quia intellectus esthabitus principiorum primorum

demonstrationis. Scientia vero estconclusionis ex causis inferioribus. Sapientiavero considerat causas primas. Unde ibidem

dicitur caput scientiarum. Prudentia vero et

ars est circa animae partem practicam, quae

est ratiocinativa de contingentibusoperabilibus a nobis. Et differunt: nam

prudentia dirigit in actionibus quae non

transeunt ad exteriorem materiam, sed suntperfectiones agentis: unde dicitur ibi quod

prudentia est recta ratio agibilium. Ars vero

dirigit in factionibus, quae in materiamexteriorem transeunt, sicut aedificare etsecare: unde dicitur quod ars est recta ratio

factibilium.

34. But because the names wisdom,science and art have been used

indifferently, lest someone should think thatthese terms are synonymous, he excludes this

opinion and refers to his work on morals, i.e.,to Book VI of theEthics, where he has

explained the difference between art, wisdom,

science, prudence, and understanding. And togive the distinction brieflywisdom, scienceand understanding pertain to the speculative

part of the soul, which he speaks of in that

work as the scientific part of the soul. But theydiffer in that understanding is the habit of the

first principles of demonstration, whereasscience has to do with conclusions drawn fromsubordinate causes, and wisdom with first

causes. This is the reason it is spoken of there

as the chief science. But prudence and art

belong to the practical part of the soul, whichreasons about our contingent courses of action.

And these also differ; for prudence directs us

in actions which do not pass over into someexternal matter but are perfections of the one

acting (which is the reason why prudence is

defined in that work as the reasoned plan ofthings to be done), but art directs us in thoseproductive actions, such as building and

cutting, which pass over into external matter

(which is the reason why art is defined as thereasoned plan of things to be made).


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Wisdom deals with causes.

Deinde cum dicit cuius autem ostendit ex

praehabitis principale propositum; quod

scilicet sapientia sit circa causas. Unde dicitquod hoc est cuius gratia nunc sermonem

facimus, idest ratiocinationem praedictam:quia scientia illa quae denominatur sapientia,

videtur esse circa primas causas, et circa

prima principia. Quod quidem patet expraehabitis. Unusquisque enim tanto

sapientior est, quanto magis accedit ad causae

cognitionem: quod ex praehabitis patet; quia

expertus est sapientior eo qui solum habetsensum sine experimento. Et artifex est

sapientior experto quocumque. Et interartifices architector est sapientior manu

artifice. Et inter artes etiam et scientias,speculativae sunt magis scientiae quam

activae. Et haec omnia ex praedictis patent.

Unde relinquitur quod illa scientia, quaesimpliciter est sapientia, est circa causas. Et

est similis modus arguendi, sicut si

diceremus: illud quod est magis calidum, est

magis igneum: unde quod simpliciter estignis, est calidum simpliciter.

35. From what has been said he proves his

major thesis, that is to say, that wisdom deals

with the causes of things. He says that thereason for undertaking this investigation,i.e., the above piece of reasoning, is that thescience which is called wisdom seems to be

about first causes and principles. This is

evident from the foregoing; for the more a manattains to a knowledge of the cause, the wiser

he is. This is also evident from the foregoing;

because the man of experience is wiser than

one who has sensation alone withoutexperience; and the artist is wiser than any

man of experience; and among artists thearchitect is wiser than the manual laborer. And

similarly among the arts and sciences thespeculative are more scientific than the

practical. All these things are dear from the

foregoing remarks. It follows, then, that thatscience which is wisdom in an absolute sense

is concerned with the causes of things. The

method of arguing would be similar if we were

to say that that which is hotter is more afire,and therefore that that which is afire in an

absolute sense is hot in an absolute sense.

LESSON 2

Wisdom Considers Universal First Causes and First Principles

ARISTOTLES TEXT Chapter 2: 982a 4-982b 11

,

[5] , . , . , [10] :

14. But since we are in search of this

science, it will therefore be necessary toconsider with what kind of causes and

principles wisdom or science deals. This

will perhaps become evident if we take

the opinions which we have about thewise man. First of all, then, we think that

the wise man is one who knows all things


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in the highest degree, as becomes him,without having a knowledge of them

individually.

, ( , ):

15. Next, we say that that man is wise

who is capable of knowing things that aredifficult and not easy for man to

understand. For sensory perception is

common to all, and is therefore easy andnot a matter of wisdom.

16. Again, [we consider him wise who is]more certain.

:

17. And in every branch of science we saythat he is wiser who is more capable ofteaching us about the causes of things.

[15] ,

18. Again, among the sciences we think

that that science which exists for itself

and is desirable for the sake of knowledgeis wisdom to a greater degree than one

which is desirable for the sake of

contingent effects.

: , , .

19. And we think that a superior science

which is rather the more basic comesnearer to wisdom than a subordinate

science. For a wise man must not be

directed but must direct, and he must notobey another but must be obeyed by one

who is less wise. Such then and so many

are the opinions which we have about thewise and about wisdom.

[20] : ( ),

20. Now of these attributes, that ofknowing all things necessarily belongs to

him who has universal knowledge in the

highest degree, because he knows inwhich are subordinate.


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Deinde cum dicit postea difficilia secundam

ponit: et est ista, quod illum sapientemponimus esse, qui est potens ex virtute sui

intellectus cognoscere difficilia, et illa quae

non sunt levia communiter hominibus adsciendum; quia commune est omnibus

sentire, idest sensibilia cognoscere. Unde

hoc est facile, et non est sophon, idest

aliquid sapientis et ad sapientem pertinens:et sic patet, quod id quod proprie ad

sapientem pertinet, non leviter ab omnibus

cognoscitur.

Here he gives the second opinion, which is this:

we hold that man to be wise who is capable, byreason of his intellect, of knowing difficult

things, and those which are not easy for

ordinary men to understand. For sensoryperception, i.e., the knowing of sensible things,

is common to all men, and is therefore easy and

so not a matter of wisdom. That is to say, it is

neither a mark nor the office of a wise man.Thus it is clear that whatever pertains properly

to wisdom is not easily known by all.

38. Again, [we consider](16).

Deinde cum dicit adhuc certiorem tertiamponit: et est, quod nos dicimus illum

sapientem esse qui de his quae scit, habet

certitudinem magis quam alii communiterhabeant.

Here he gives the third opinion, namely, that wesay that he is wise who, regarding what he

knows, is more certainthan other men

generally are.

Deinde cum dicit et magis quartam ponit: et

est talis. Illum dicimus magis sapientem in

omni scientia, qui potest assignare causas

cuiuslibet quaesiti, et per hoc docere.

39. And in every branch (17). Here he gives

the fourth opinion, namely, that that man is said

to be wiser in every science who can give

the causesof anything that is brought intoquestion, and can teach by means of this.

40. Again, among the sciences(18).

Deinde cum dicit sed et hanc quintam ponit:

et est, quod illa de numero scientiarum estsapientia, quae per se est magis eligibilis etvoluntaria, idest volita gratia scientiae, et

propter ipsum scire, quam illa scientia, quae

est causa quorumque aliorum contingentium

quae possunt ex scientia generari;

cuiusmodi est necessitas vitae, delectatio ethuiusmodi alia.

Here he gives the fifth opinion, which is this:

among the many sciences that science which ismore desirable and willed for its own sake, i.e.,chosen for the sake of knowledge and for

knowledge itself alone, is more of the nature of

wisdom than one which is for the sake of any of

the other contingent effects which can be caused

by knowledge, such as the necessities of life,pleasure, and so forth.

Deinde cum dicit et hanc sextam ponit: etest talis, quod istam sapientiam, de qua

facta est mentio, oportet esse vel dicimus

esse magis antiquiorem, idest digniorem,

41. And we think(19). Here he gives the sixthopinion, namely, that this wisdom, of which

mention has been made, must be or is said to berather the more basic, i.e.,nobler, than a


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quod omnia praedicta conveniunt ei qui

cognoscit primas causas et universales; et eoordine prosequitur quo supra posuit. Unde

primo posuit quod habenti scientiam

universalem maxime insit omnia scire; quoderat primum. Quod sic patet. Quicumque

enim scit universalia, aliquo modo scit ea

quae sunt subiecta universalibus, quia scit

ea in illa: sed his quae sunt maximeuniversalia sunt omnia subiecta, ergo ille

qui scit maxime universalia, scit

quodammodo omnia.

the above attributes come together in the man

who knows the first and universal causes ofthings; and he follows the same order as he did

above. Thus he held first that knowledge of allthings in the highest degreebelongs to himwho has universal knowledge. This was the first

opinion, and it is made clear in this way:

Whoever knows universals knows in some

respect the things which are subordinate touniversals, because he knows the universal in

them. But all things are subordinate to thosewhich are most universal. Therefore the one

who knows the most universal things, knows ina sense all things.

45. But the things(21).

Deinde cum dicit sed fere autem ostendit

eidem inesse secundum, tali ratione. Illaquae sunt maxime a sensibilibus remota,

difficilia sunt hominibus ad cognoscendum;

nam sensitiva cognitio est omnibus

communis, cum ex ea omnis humanacognitio initium sumat. Sed illa quae sunt

maxime universalia, sunt sensibilibus

remotissima, eo quod sensus singularium

sunt: ergo universalia sunt difficillimahominibus ad cognoscendum. Et sic patet

quod illa scientia est difficillima, quae est

maxime de universalibus.

Here he proves that the second attribute belongs

to the same person, by the following argument.Those things which are farthest removed from

the senses are difficultfor men to know; for

sensory perception is common to all men since

all human knowledge originates with this. Butthose things which are most universal are

farthest removed from sensible things, because

the senses have to do with singular things.

Hence universals are the most difficult for mento know. Thus it is clear that that science is the

most difficult which is most concerned with

universals.

Sed contra hoc videtur esse quod habeturprimo physicorum. Ibi enim dicitur quod

magis universalia sunt nobis primo nota. Illa

autem quae sunt primo nota, sunt magis

facilia. Sed dicendum, quod magisuniversalia secundum simplicem

apprehensionem sunt primo nota, nam

primo in intellectu cadit ens, ut Avicennadicit, et prius in intellectu cadit animal

quam homo. Sicut enim in esse naturae

quod de potentia in actum procedit prius estanimal quam homo, ita in generatione

scientiae prius in intellectu concipitur

46. But the statement which appears in Book Iof thePhysicsseems to contradict this. For it is

said there that more universalthings are known

first by us; and those things which are known

first are those which are easier. Yet it must besaid that those things which are more

universal according to simple

apprehension are known first; for being is thefirst thing that comes into the intellect, as

Avicenna says, and animal comes into the

intellect before man does. For just as in theorder of nature, which proceeds from

potentiality to actuality, animal is prior to man,


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Deinde cum dicit et noscere ostendit

quintum eidem inesse, tali ratione. Illarumscientiarum maxime est scire et cognoscere

earum causa, idest propter seipsas et non

propter alias, quae sunt de maximescibilibus: sed illae scientiae quae sunt de

primis causis, sunt de maxime scibilibus:

igitur illae scientiae maxime sui gratia

desiderantur. Primam sic probat. Quidesiderat scire propter scire, magis desiderat

scientiam: sed maxima scientia est de

maxime scibilibus: ergo illae scientiae sunt

magis desideratae propter seipsas quae suntde magis scibilibus. Secundam probat sic.

Illa, ex quibus et propter quae alia

cognoscuntur, sunt magis scibilia his quae

per ea cognoscuntur: sed per causas etprincipia alia cognoscuntur et non e

converso, et cetera.

Here he proves that the fifth attribute belongs to

the same science, by this argument: it is theoffice of those sciences which deal with things

that are most knowable, most properly to know

and understand for their own sake, i.e., for thesake of those sciences themselves and not for

something else. But it is the sciences that deal

with first causes which consider the most

knowable things. Therefore those sciences aredesired most for their own sake. He proves the

first premise thus: One who most desires

knowledge for the sake of knowledge most

desires scientific knowledge. But the highestkind of knowledge is concerned with things that

are most knowable. Therefore those sciences are

desired most for their own sake which have to

do with things that are most knowable. Heproves the second premise thus: Those things

from which and by reason of which other thingsare known are more knowable than the things

which are known by means of them. But these

other things are known through causes and

principles, and not vice versa, etc.

50. But that science(25).

Deinde cum dicit maxime vero ostenditsextum inesse eidem: et est ratio talis. Illa

scientia se habet ad alias ut principalis, sive

ut architectonica ad servilem sive adfamulantem, quae considerat causam

finalem, cuius causa agenda sunt singula;

sicut apparet in his, quae supra diximus.Nam gubernator, ad quem pertinet usus

navis, qui est finis navis, est quasi

architector respectu navisfactoris, qui ei

famulatur. Sed praedicta scientia maxime

considerat causam finalem rerum omnium.Quod ex hoc patet, quia hoc cuius causa

agendo sunt singula, est bonumuniuscuiusque, idest particulare bonum.

Finis autem bonum est in unoquoque

genere. Id vero, quod est finis omnium,

idest ipsi universo, est hoc quod est

Here he proves that the sixth attribute belongs tothe same science, by the following argument:

that science which considers the final cause, or

that for the sake of which particular things aredone, is related to the other sciences as a chief

or master scienceis to a subordinate or

ancillary one, as is evident from the foregoingremarks. For the navigator, to whom the use, or

end, of the ship belongs, is a kind of master

artist in relation to the shipbuilder who serves

him. But the aforesaid science is concerned

most with the final cause of all things. This isdear from the fact that that for the sake of which

all particular things are done is the good of each,i.e., a particular good. But the end in any class

of things is a good; and that which is the end of

all things, i.e., of the universe itself, is the

greatest good in the whole of natu

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Commentary on Metaphysics/ Aristotle/ Aquinas