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WISDOM AND BEING IN ARISTOTLE'S FIRST PHILOSOPHY 1) ( (THERErs A Science (emi'A.ouocf>l,a) •2 Having bluntly asserted the facticity of ontology, he immediately distinguishes this science from the so-called special sciences which cut off a part of being and treat only it, whereas the science here claimed treats universally of being, simply as being.3 Before we follow Aristotle in his search for ontology, it is necessary for us to ask how he characterizes this particular science which is other than the special sciences. We know the intention of this science differs from that of the particular sciences . But what about the science itself? Is it characterized in a special way? If so, how? Such an investigation seems to be a wholly proper beginning to the understanding of ontology, i.e., the intention of' first philosophy,' for it should uncover the terms or the concepts which provide the architectonic the investigation assumes. Furthermore, Aristotle himself enters the problematic of 'first philosophy ' by investigating the science of the philosopher.4 2) Book A of Metaphysics opens with a discussion of the 1 Metaphysics, 1008a20. 2 Cf. N. Hartman, Zur Grundlegung der Ontologie (Berlin: Walter De Gruyter, 1965), p. 88. "Aristotle is entirely correct in understanding his ' first philosophy' as the science of being qua being." (Translation mine). •Meta., 1008a28-24. •The three books preceding the above quotation are chiefly concerned with defining Wisdom and its aim. 444 WISDOM AND BEING IN ARISTOTLE'S FIRST PHILOSOPHY 445 various species of knowledge, e.g., sensation, memory, art.5 Wisdom (uo£a) depends in all cases on knowledge; thus Wisdom too is a specie.s.6 However, Wisdom is a uniquely important and differentiated species of knowledge, for it tells the ' why ' of anything and for Aristotle truly knowing means grasping the ' why ' of things.7 Elsewhere Aristotle has said that "scientific knowledge is of things that are universal and necessary." 8 If the ' why ' of things are the universal and necessary causes, then Wisdom must be scientific knowledge. Indeed, says Aristotle, " all men suppose that what is called Wisdom deals with the first causes ('11'pwrY, alrta) and principles (apx~) [i.e., the' why'] of things." 9 Furthermore, Wisdom is yet even more unique, i. e., it deals with first causes. " Clearly, then, Wisdom is knowledge about certain [i.e., first] principles and causes." 10 Having discovered that we seek certain causes and principles , " we must inquire of what kind are the causes and the principles, the knowledge of which is Wisdom." 11 In order to determine the kinds of principles which concern Wisdom, Aristotle examines the characteristics of the wise man and finds the following. The wise man has knowledge as far as possible of all things; he can learn the most difficult, i. e., notions most removed from sensory perception; he is more exact and capable of teaching; he has science for its own sake; he has superior knowledge, for the wise man .should order and be followed.12 From the characteristic of the wise man, it can be seen that Wisdom " must belong to him who has in the highest degree universal knowledge." 13 Thus it can be said that the scientific knowledge of the most universal is Wisdom, for it is the science of all things since all things in a sense fall under the universal. 5 Meta., 980a20-981h10. • Ibid., 981a26. 7 Ibid., 981hll; Physics, 194h18-20. 8 Nicomachean Ethics, 1141h31, •Meta., 981h27. 10 Ibid., 982al. 11 Ibid., 982a5-6. 12 Ibid., 982a8-19. 13 Ibid., 982a21. 446 STEPHEN SKOUSGAARD Wisdom is the most difficult science since the universal is the farthest from the particulars of the senses. It is the most accurate .since fewer principles make a science more exact, and it is the most instructive since knowing the highest cause is most instructive. It is science for its own sake since it is most knowable and truly knowledge as there is nothing above it. Hence it is also the most superior since it is by reason of it that everything else comes to be known.14 In this manner, Aristotle satisfies himself that the science he calls Wisdom meets all the...

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