As I get older I become more aware of the gaps in my education. Some of the bothers me not. When I read of listen to someone who drops the names of current cultural icons, when I see of picture of someone who is supposedly famous and I have no clue, when books are mentioned that I have never heard of, I shrug my shoulders and get on with life. I am philosophical about it.
There are others that I know I should have read but if I did it was more skimming for a class than reading to understand. 1984 would be a good example. It is a book that I read since retiring and found I should have been on my fourth or fifth time through.
Currently I am begining a journey through Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. I am in no hurry. I am curious to see why it is still in print. That means taking my time and considering whether there is anything to ponder on after a bit of reading.
As I begin reading, I see that Aristotle is declaring what is the most important science. He comes to the conclusion that it is political science or politics.
“But such is manifestly the science of politics; for it is this that ordains which of the sciences are to exist in states, and what branches of knowledge the different classes of the citizens are to learn, and up to what point; and we observe that even the most highly esteemed the faculties, such as strategy, domestic economy, oratory, are subordinate to the political science.” pp. 3-4While I would agree that the modern deep state elites are trying to use politics to dominate and control the country I don’t think they could be accused of using it for the greater good.
Christians would reject the idea totally. For us the primary area of study should be theology. In the middle ages, when the church was instrumental in establishing the university system, theology was considered the queen of the sciences. How far it has fallen and how the definition of science has changed.
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by Harris Rackham. England: Wordsworth Classics of World Literature, 1996.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.