Aristotle on the Nature of Analogy by Eric Schumacher

Author:Eric Schumacher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Lexington Books, a division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2012-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

Nous and the Apprehending of First Principles

There is one essential goal in this section; namely, to describe the way nous acquires the principles of nature. This section is not an attempt to illustrate what nous is in itself. Rather, that nous is the disposition that enables one to acquire principles is our primary goal. What might be seen from the accomplishing of this goal is that nous, both and at the same time, relies on logos (in a manner of speaking) and “makes” logos possible in the first place. Logos, as was touched on above in the second condition of nous for analogy, enables judgments to be made about the beings received in sense-perception. Logos enables the beings taken-in through aisthēsis to be identified “as” this or that type of being. It is within this identifying of sensed beings that falsity is possible. However, now we want to extend beyond this identifying, judging and naming, and we want to go beyond the “as” structure of logos and address the acquisition of the first principles that make the “as” structure possible. These noetic principles cannot be identified “as” this or that type of being. As such, the principles acquired through nous are always true and are therefore without logos.[23] It is these principles, as will hopefully be seen in the end, which can only receive articulation by way of analogy.

In the Nicomachean Ethics Zeta, 6, Aristotle addresses the five intellectual virtues. Regarding nous, Aristotle writes:

Scientific Knowledge is a mode of conception dealing with universals and things that are of necessity; and demonstrated truths are all scientific knowledge (since this involves reasoning) are derived from first principles. Consequently the first principles from which scientific truths are derived cannot themselves be reached by Science; nor yet are they apprehended by Art, nor by Prudence. To be matter of Scientific Knowledge a truth must be demonstrated by deduction from other truths; while Art and Prudence are concerned only with things that admit of variation. Nor is Wisdom the knowledge of first principles either; for the philosopher has to arrive at some things by demonstration. If then the qualities whereby we attain truth, and are never led into falsehood, whether about things invariable or things variable, are Scientific Knowledge, Prudence, Wisdom, and Intelligence, and if the quality which enables us to apprehend first principles cannot be any one among three of these, namely Scientific Knowledge, Prudence, and Wisdom, it remains that first principles must be apprehended by Intelligence. (1140b 31–1140b 9)[24]

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