5. The Preamble to Aristotle's Metaphysics: Knowledge, Wonder, and Wisdom

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

The Natural Desire to Know #

• All men by nature desire to know (intelligere—to understand, not merely sensory knowledge)
• Knowledge is a real good because it is naturally desired by all men
• This natural inclination distinguishes wisdom from merely useful or practical knowledge
• The good is what all desire; if knowledge is naturally desired, it is an actual good

The Role of the Senses in Knowledge #

• Sight as the primary sense for knowledge: We choose to see before all other senses, not only for practical purposes but “not aiming at doing anything”
• The eye shows us differences and reveals many things
• We use senses for making and doing, but also for knowing itself—the latter demonstrates knowledge as an end in itself
• Example: A beautiful sunset or view is chosen for its own sake, not for utility

The Structure of the Preamble #

• Thomas divides Aristotle’s preamble into two main parts:
  1. First two readings: Show what the goal of wisdom is
  2. Third reading: Discuss the kind of knowledge wisdom is
• Aristotle’s epilogue recalls these same points in reverse order
• This structure mirrors the prologue and play division (like Romeo and Juliet’s prologue to the main text)

Experience vs. Knowledge of Universals #

• Experience (empeiria): Knowledge of singulars; knowing that something is so
• Art/Science: Knowledge of universals and causes; knowing why something is so
• Example: One doctor suspects illness; another diagnoses the cause—the latter is wiser because more certain about causation
• The man of art is wiser than the man of mere experience

The Natural Road of Knowledge #

• Progression: Sensation → Memory → Experience → Knowledge of the Universal
• Sensation is immediate and certain but least universal; comes before memory in time
• Memory is more universal than sensation but less certain than sensation itself
• Experience unifies many memories; a higher form of knowledge than singular memory
• Knowledge of the Universal transcends particular cases and grasps why something is so
• Each stage depends on the previous one; each is superior in some respect

On Certainty and Universality #

• Sensation is more certain (less subject to error) but less universal
• Memory is less certain than sensation (people’s accounts of past events diverge over time)
• Experience is more universal than sensation but less universal than knowledge of causes
• The question arises: Which is “better”—sensing face-to-face or remembering? The direct experience is superior despite memory being more universal

The Dependence on Other Minds #

• Aristotle recalls predecessors not from pride but to show insufficiency in their positions
• One develops thinking by arguing against defects in others’ positions
• This contrasts with modern philosophers who often reject ancients without recalling their reasons
• Thomas shows how to recall opinions justly, refute positions fairly, and refute arguments—this is the proper way of philosophical investigation

Wonder and the Pursuit of Causes #

• Wonder leads to philosophy and the pursuit of causes
• The rainbow as example: unites heaven and earth, leads to wonder about causes
• Wonder arises from not knowing why things are so
• The investigation of causes—and philosophy itself—also unites heaven and earth (the visible and invisible orders)

Reason as Ordering and Divine #

• God-like reason: “God-like reason” (from Shakespeare) suggests something divine about reason itself
• If God is the source of all order, and order means “before and after,” then reason—which “looks before and after”—participates in something divine
• Quote: “The things which are from God are ordered” (St. Paul, Epistle to the Romans)
• Reason is characterized by distinguishing and ordering what is distinguished
• This reflects Anaxagoras’s claim that mind (nous) separates things and orders them

Key Arguments #

Why the Preamble Begins with “All Men Desire to Know” #

• Establishes knowledge as a natural good, not merely instrumental
• Shows the desire for knowledge is inherent to human nature
• Prepares the reader to understand wisdom as the fulfillment of this natural desire
• If all men desire knowledge by nature, then investigating wisdom is pursuing a real human good

The Priority of Sight Among the Senses #

• Sight is chosen “before all the others”
• We can use sight “not aiming at doing anything”—revealing knowledge as distinct from utility
• Sight shows us differences and reveals the nature of things
• Therefore, sight is the sense most suited to the pursuit of wisdom

Why Modern Philosophy Lacks the Proper Method #

• Modern philosophers often begin by rejecting ancients without recalling their arguments
• This approach lacks humility and proper philosophical method
• It resembles the devil’s pride (per John of Avila)
• Proper method requires showing the insufficiency of predecessors’ positions through careful refutation, not mere rejection

Important Definitions #

Intelligere (Understanding) #

• Not mere sensory knowing (sensus) but grasping with understanding
• The proper operation of reason
• What all men by nature desire
• Distinguished from practical knowledge (making or doing)

Experience (Empeiria) #

• Knowledge of singulars unified through memory
• Knowing that something is so (e.g., “this remedy helped Callias”)
• More universal than sensation but inferior to knowledge of universal causes

Art/Science (Techne/Episteme) #

• Knowledge of universals and causes
• Knowing why something is so
• Superior to experience in understanding
• Can be taught and transmitted

Wisdom in the Preamble Context #

• The highest perfection of reason
• Sought for its own sake, not for utility (speculative)
• Requires investigating first causes
• Involves understanding why things are so, not merely that they are so

The Preamble (Premium) #

• The introductory section that shows:
  1. What the goal (desirability) of wisdom is
  2. The kind of knowledge wisdom is
• Functions like a prologue or overture, preparing the reader
• Must be taken seriously as it reveals the author’s intention

Examples & Illustrations #

Sight and Desire for Knowledge #

• A beautiful sunset: chosen for its own sake, not for any practical purpose
• Buying a house for its view: the view is the primary reason, independent of utility
• Traveling to see locations: we often travel just to see things (Hebrides, scenic locations), not to do anything there
• The young student interested in astronomy: took out astronomy books from the library to understand the stars, not to use that knowledge for practical purposes

Experience vs. Knowledge of Causes #

• Doctor diagnosing: One doctor suspects something is wrong and calls a specialist; the specialist is wiser because more certain about the cause
• Tea brewing: By experience, leaving tea too long makes it taste bad; by science, one knows why (specific chemicals released at different temperatures)
• Making popcorn: Repeated trial and error leads eventually to understanding universal principles of moisture and heat

The Hierarchy of Certainty and Universality #

• Eyewitness testimony: Immediately certain but subject to error over time
• Accident accounts: People’s recollection diverges significantly after two weeks versus immediately after the event
• Seeing a friend face-to-face versus remembering: Direct sensation is superior even though memory is more universal
• Hearing Mozart’s Don Giovanni live versus hearing it on CD: The direct experience is incomparably better

Wonder Leading to Investigation #

• The rainbow after rain: Unites heaven and earth, inspires wonder, leads to questioning about causes and meaning
• Connection to Socrates via Thales: Wonder (thaumazein) is the genealogy of the rainbow—wonder leads to philosophy
• Theological resonance: The rainbow as sign of reconciliation (Genesis) connects to wonder’s role in pursuing causes

Questions Addressed #

Why does Aristotle begin with “All men by nature desire to know”? #

• Establishes knowledge as a real, natural good
• Grounds the entire investigation in human nature
• Shows that wisdom is not merely useful but desired for itself
• Justifies the effort of philosophical investigation

Why is sight privileged among the senses? #

• Sight can be exercised for knowledge alone, not merely for practical purposes
• Sight reveals the most differences and shows the nature of things
• We are willing to choose sight and endure hardship just to see (travel, leisure for viewing)
• Therefore, sight most clearly reveals our natural desire to know for its own sake

How should philosophers relate to their predecessors? #

• By recalling what they said and why they said it
• By carefully showing the insufficiency of their positions
• Not by rejecting them out of pride without understanding their reasons
• By developing one’s own thinking through respectful argument against defects

What makes one knowledge superior to another? #

• Being about a better or more universal thing
• Being more certain in its grasp
• Knowing the cause rather than merely that something is so
• Being able to teach and explain why

How do sensation and memory relate in knowing? #

• In time: Sensation comes before memory
• In necessity: Memory cannot exist without sensation; sensation can exist without memory
• In superiority: Sensation is more certain; memory is more universal
• The paradox: Direct sensation (face-to-face) is superior even though memory transcends the particular

Connections to Thomistic Method #

The Importance of the Preamble #

• Thomas’s teacher Monsignor Dionne taught an entire course on what a preamble is, using this preamble as the primary example
• Dionne emphasized that Aristotle’s prembles (and Thomas’s own) are not like modern prefaces—they demand serious attention
• The preamble is so significant that one lecture on it can expand into multiple sessions
• Understanding the preamble’s structure and arguments is essential for reading the entire work properly