Book 6 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 2 - The Nature of Wisdom
Explanation - Part By Part
"Him did the gods make neither a digger nor yet a ploughman Nor wise in anything else."
In this part, Aristotle quotes Homer’s "Margites" to illustrate an individual who lacks wisdom or practical skills. The gods made this person neither a manual laborer (like a digger or a ploughman) nor knowledgeable in any other meaningful way. It’s a poetic way of describing someone with no useful abilities or understanding—suggesting wisdom goes beyond basic, practical skills or trades. Aristotle is building toward the idea that wisdom involves grasping deeper truths and the “highest” forms of knowledge, rather than just competence in a specific task. This sets the stage for his argument that wisdom is about understanding fundamental principles, not just everyday know-how.
"Therefore wisdom must plainly be the most finished of the forms of knowledge."
Aristotle is stating that wisdom represents the highest, most refined, and most complete form of knowledge. It’s not just knowing specific facts or being skilled in a particular area (like an artisan or craftsman); instead, wisdom encompasses a broader, deeper understanding. It’s a combination of knowing fundamental truths and the ability to reason about them, which elevates it above other forms of knowledge.
"It follows that the wise man must not only know what follows from the first principles, but must also possess truth about the first principles."
Aristotle is saying that a truly wise person isn’t just someone who understands the consequences or outcomes of foundational ideas (the "first principles"), but someone who also has a deep and accurate understanding of those foundational ideas themselves. In other words, wisdom isn’t just about knowing what happens when you build on those first principles; it’s about grasping the core truths that everything else is built upon. True wisdom requires insight into both the starting points and what comes from them.
"Therefore wisdom must be intuitive reason combined with scientific knowledge-scientific knowledge of the highest objects which has received as it were its proper completion."
Aristotle is explaining the nature of true wisdom, which he sees as something deeper and more comprehensive than just being skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area (like an artist or craftsperson). He argues that true wisdom is a blend of intuitive reason and scientific knowledge.
- Intuitive reason is the ability to grasp fundamental truths or first principles—these are the foundational ideas or truths that don’t require further explanation. You understand them instinctively through reason.
- Scientific knowledge refers to a systematic understanding of things, built on those foundational truths. It’s not limited to any specific field but aims at understanding the highest and most important things in existence.
Essentially, wisdom is fully achieved only when someone has both: the capacity to grasp first principles and to connect them to a deep understanding of how everything flows from them. This makes wisdom the "most complete" or "finished" form of knowing something, guiding not just everyday actions but our understanding of the most profound aspects of reality.