Book 6 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 1 - Wisdom in Arts and General Life
Explanation - Part By Part
"Wisdom in the arts we ascribe to their most finished exponents, e.g. to Phidias as a sculptor and to Polyclitus as a maker of portrait-statues, and here we mean nothing by wisdom except excellence in art;"
Aristotle is explaining that in the realm of the arts, we use the term "wisdom" to describe those who are exceptionally skilled or accomplished in their craft. For example, Phidias, famous for his work as a sculptor, and Polyclitus, known for creating portrait-statues, are considered "wise" in their artistic fields. Here, he isn't connecting wisdom to deep philosophical or universal knowledge but rather to a masterful level of expertise and excellence within a specific art form. Essentially, in this context, "wisdom" means being outstandingly good at what you create or do in your craft.
"but we think that some people are wise in general, not in some particular field or in any other limited respect, as Homer says in the Margites,"
Here, Aristotle is making a distinction between two types of wisdom. On one hand, there’s the kind of wisdom that is specific to a particular skill or craft—for example, someone being called "wise" in their mastery of an art, like Phidias in sculpture or Polyclitus in making statues. This type of wisdom refers to technical excellence or expertise in a specific domain.
On the other hand, there’s the idea of a broader, more general wisdom. This is not limited to proficiency in a specific field, but rather concerns a deeper understanding of life, universal truths, or fundamental principles. Aristotle points out that certain individuals are considered "wise" in this broader sense—they possess insights that apply to life as a whole. He references Homer’s Margites to illustrate this idea, likely because the poem characterizes wisdom (or the lack of it) beyond just specialized skills, emphasizing a more comprehensive perspective.
In short, Aristotle is highlighting two levels of wisdom: one that is confined to specific crafts or arts, and another that transcends these boundaries, dealing with greater, universal truths and principles. This broader wisdom is what we might think of as philosophical or life wisdom today.