Book 6 / Chapter 13
Paragraph 3 - The Limits of Political Power and Philosophic Wisdom
Explanation - Part By Part
"But again it is not supreme over philosophic wisdom, i.e. over the superior part of us, any more than the art of medicine is over health; for it does not use it but provides for its coming into being; it issues orders, then, for its sake, but not to it."
Aristotle is clarifying that practical wisdom (which helps us make decisions and take action in line with virtue) is not the highest or most supreme form of wisdom. He compares it to how the art of medicine operates: medicine serves the goal of achieving health, but it doesn’t control or dominate health itself—it merely helps to bring it about. In the same way, practical wisdom works to support and enable philosophic wisdom (which he associates with the higher intellectual part of us), but it doesn’t command or surpass it. Philosophic wisdom represents contemplation and understanding of higher truths, and practical wisdom exists to assist its fulfillment, not to overshadow or direct it.
"Further, to maintain its supremacy would be like saying that the art of politics rules the gods because it issues orders about all the affairs of the state."
Aristotle here is emphasizing the idea of limits to authority or supremacy. He’s arguing against the notion that practical wisdom (which deals with making good choices in life and taking appropriate action) could ever surpass or rule over philosophical wisdom (which seeks deeper truths and ultimate understanding). He makes an analogy: just because politics oversees all the state’s affairs, you wouldn’t claim that politics has power over the gods, who are above any earthly domain. Similarly, practical wisdom may play a key role in guiding human actions, but it cannot claim dominance over the higher pursuit of truth and understanding found in philosophical wisdom. In essence, each has its rightful realm, and you can’t elevate practical wisdom to a level it doesn’t belong to.