Book 6 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 4 - Philosophic Wisdom and the Divine
Explanation - Part By Part
"But if the argument be that man is the best of the animals, this makes no difference; for there are other things much more divine in their nature even than man, e.g., most conspicuously, the bodies of which the heavens are framed."
Aristotle is addressing an argument that claims humans are the greatest of all animals. He essentially dismisses this idea by pointing out that, even if humans are superior to other animals, there are things in existence far more "divine" or extraordinary than humans. As an example, he refers to the "bodies of which the heavens are framed"—likely meaning the celestial bodies, such as the stars and planets, which were seen in ancient times as perfect, eternal, and transcendent compared to earthly beings. In short, while humans might rank high within the animal world, there's a broader cosmic perspective in which humans are not the highest or most extraordinary things.
"From what has been said it is plain, then, that philosophic wisdom is scientific knowledge, combined with intuitive reason, of the things that are highest by nature."
Here, Aristotle is defining what he means by philosophic wisdom (or sophia in Greek). He explains that it is not just about knowing random facts or practical skills. Instead, philosophic wisdom is a combination of scientific knowledge (deep, systematic understanding of universal truths) and intuitive reason (an innate ability to grasp first principles or self-evident truths). Importantly, it is directed at understanding the most elevated and fundamental aspects of existence—what he calls "the things that are highest by nature." Essentially, philosophic wisdom seeks to uncover profound truths about the universe and reality itself, rather than focusing on earthly or trivial matters.
"This is why we say Anaxagoras, Thales, and men like them have philosophic but not practical wisdom, when we see them ignorant of what is to their own advantage, and why we say that they know things that are remarkable, admirable, difficult, and divine, but useless; viz. because it is not human goods that they seek."
Aristotle is drawing a distinction between two types of wisdom: philosophic wisdom and practical wisdom. He uses historical figures like Anaxagoras and Thales—early Greek philosophers known for their deep understanding of nature and the cosmos—to illustrate this point. He argues that these individuals possess philosophic wisdom because they seek to understand lofty, abstract, and divine truths about the universe, which are admirable and intellectually profound. However, they lack practical wisdom, which is about knowing how to navigate everyday life and promote one’s own well-being or practical interests.
In other words, while Anaxagoras and Thales might excel at contemplating complex, awe-inspiring ideas (like the origins of the cosmos or the fundamental nature of reality), they are "ignorant" when it comes to managing basic, practical concerns or pursuing things that serve human needs. Their knowledge is impressive but "useless" in the sense that it isn’t geared toward improving daily human life or achieving human goods—the tangible, everyday things that help people live well.
Aristotle thus highlights that philosophic wisdom seeks truths that are divine and removed from practical utility, while practical wisdom is grounded in the real-world demands of human existence.