Retrieving Aristotle in an Age of Crisis

Contents

Contents Acknowledgments vii A Note to the Reader ix Prologue xi Introduction: Why Aristotle Matters. 1 Chapter One: The Stars Are Eternal. 17 I.1: There Are Only Three Dimensions. 17 I.2: Threeness Determines Wholeness. 21 I.3: There Are Four Elements. 30 I.4: Elements Naturally Move to Their Natural Place. 31 I.5: The Circle Is Perfect. 35 I.6: The Body Moving in Circular Orbit Is Eternal. 37 I.7: History Is More or Less Bunk. 38 I.8: Religion Bears Witness to the Truth. 42 Chapter Two: Nature is Purpose. 45 II.1: Teleology Is Good Science. 45 II.2: Intelligent Design Isn’t All Stupid. 54 II.3: Some Beings Are Natural; Others Are Not. 57 II.4: Form Is Nature More than Matter. 60 II.5: Form Is More Divine than Matter. 63 II.6: Nature Is Hierarchical. 67 II.7: To Understand Nature, Study Its Best Examples. 69 II.8: The Finite Is Better than the Infinite. 71 II.9: Good Science Appreciates Things as They Are. 77 vi / Contents Chapter Three: Being Is Good. 81 III.1: Metaphysics Is Onto-Theology. 81 III.2: There Are Substances Out There. 84 III.3: We Know a Substance When We See One. 92 III.4: God Is Alive and Good. 98 III.5: To Stand Firmly on the Side of Life. 109 Chapter Four: Truth Is Easy. 115 IV.1: If the Eye Were an Animal, Vision Would Be Its Soul. 115 IV.2: The World Is Nourishing. 118 IV.3: Perceiving Is Like Eating. 119 IV.4: We Are Wrong More Often than Not. 131 IV.5: Thinking Is Like Perceiving (Which Is Like Eating). 136 IV.6: We Can Say What We Think. 142 IV.7: We “Truth” the World. 144 Chapter Five: The Theoretical Life Is Divine. 149 V.1: Life Is Meaningful. 150 V.2: Happiness Is Objective. 153 V.3: Good Life Comes from Good Habits. 158 V.4: Freedom Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be. 162 V.5: Moral Evaluation Requires Stories. 165 V.6: Smart Moral People Are Better than Dumb Moral People. 167 V.7: Lack-of-Leisure Is for the Sake of Leisure. 173 V.8: Theôria Is Not “Contemplation.” 178 Chapter Six: Enough Is Enough. 189 VI.1: The Best City Needs the Best Life. 191 VI.2: The Practical Life Is Not the Best. 193 VI.3: Natural Slavery Is Justified. 196 VI.4: A Woman’s Place Is in the Home. 201 VI.5: Small, but Not Too Small, Is Beautiful. 207 VI.6: War Is for the Sake of Peace. 213 VI.7: Philosophy Cures. 213 Epilogue 217 Notes 219 Bibliography 233 Index 237 ...