ABSTRACT

Greek philosophy arose during the sixth century BC. Like us, the Greeks asked themselves how it all came about. Aristotle ties this to the problem of the nature of philosophy (Aristot. Met. 980 a 21 ff.). Philosophy builds on experience, though it is not experience. Experience deals with the particular, philosophy or science with the universal. The practical man-for example, the artisan-knows what he has to do in a given situation. The theoretician or philosopher knows the causes, for he not only knows that this or that is the case, he also knows why. Practical discoveries, Aristotle continues, are the first to appear in the development of mankind. It is not until the material needs have been met that it becomes possible for someone to devote himself to speculation. This happened in Egypt where the priesthood had enough time to study mathematics. Aristotle further notes that theoretical speculation is at all times more highly regarded, because its aim is not some practical application. In fact, theoretical knowledge, just as the life of a free man, has its purpose in itself.