ABSTRACT
This chapter considers Aristotle not only the prince, but the god of philosophers', wrote Jacob Schegk in 1538. Around the same time Philip Melanchthon said, 'Aristotle is the one and only master of method.' Melanchthon's natural philosophy had thus set out to prove that every single part of the universe was purposefully created by God for the sake of humans, who were also skilfully created by God. Schegk and Melanchthon shared many assumptions with respect to the usability and usefulness of Aristotle for natural philosophy: Aristotle – both agreed – erred against certain tenets of the Christian Church. Since Melanchthon's aim was to prove a point about human behaviour, the universe quite naturally and physically had Earth as its centre. Melanchthon's natural philosophy had thus set out to prove that every single part of the universe was purposefully created by God for the sake of humans, who were also skilfully created by God.
