Book 6 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 3 - Philosophic Wisdom and Practical Wisdom
Explanation - Part By Part
"Of the highest objects, we say; for it would be strange to think that the art of politics, or practical wisdom, is the best knowledge, since man is not the best thing in the world."
Aristotle is pointing out that it would be odd to claim that politics or practical wisdom is the ultimate form of knowledge because those fields revolve around human affairs. Since humans are not the "highest" or most significant beings in the grand scheme of the universe, it doesn’t make sense to place human-centered knowledge at the absolute pinnacle of understanding. Instead, he implies there must be something greater or more universal than just human concerns—that is, knowledge related to the most fundamental truths or principles governing all existence.
"Now if what is healthy or good is different for men and for fishes, but what is white or straight is always the same, any one would say that what is wise is the same but what is practically wise is different; for it is to that which observes well the various matters concerning itself that one ascribes practical wisdom, and it is to this that one will entrust such matters."
Aristotle is making a distinction between two kinds of knowledge or intelligence: "wisdom" (which is universal and unchanging) and "practical wisdom" (which depends on context and varies based on the situation). He explains this by comparing things that are universally consistent, like "white" or "straight," to things that vary depending on circumstances, like what is considered "healthy" or "good." For example, what is healthy for a human isn't the same as what is healthy for a fish.
In the same way, Aristotle says, wisdom is universal—it represents higher, unchanging truths. But practical wisdom is specific to individual circumstances. It involves observing and understanding specific things to make good decisions in those situations. This kind of wisdom is applied differently depending on the context or subject, and we trust it to handle real-world matters effectively.
"This is why we say that some even of the lower animals have practical wisdom, viz. those which are found to have a power of foresight with regard to their own life."
Aristotle is highlighting that even some animals display practical wisdom because they show a kind of instinctive foresight when it comes to their survival. For example, animals might store food for the winter, protect themselves from predators, or care for their young. This ability to anticipate and act for their own well-being demonstrates a form of practical intelligence or wisdom, even though it is not based on rational thought like human wisdom is. Essentially, he's acknowledging that wisdom isn't exclusive to humans, at least when it comes to practical, survival-oriented actions.
"It is evident also that philosophic wisdom and the art of politics cannot be the same; for if the state of mind concerned with a man's own interests is to be called philosophic wisdom, there will be many philosophic wisdoms; there will not be one concerned with the good of all animals (any more than there is one art of medicine for all existing things), but a different philosophic wisdom about the good of each species."
Aristotle is making the point here that philosophic wisdom (the pursuit of deep truths and an understanding of universal principles) and political wisdom (practical judgment about managing human communities) cannot be the same thing. He argues that if we were to define philosophic wisdom as a way of thinking solely focused on individual self-interest, then there would have to be many different kinds of philosophic wisdom—one unique to each person or species.
For example, just as there isn’t a single universal medicine that works for all living beings, from humans to animals, there wouldn’t be a singular philosophic wisdom that applies to the well-being of every individual or species. Each species (humans, animals, etc.) would require its own unique understanding of what is good for it.
What Aristotle is emphasizing is that philosophic wisdom isn’t about tailoring itself to specific, individual needs (like practical wisdom or politics would), but is instead about understanding the highest and most universal truths—those that remain consistent regardless of the specifics of individual or species-level concerns.