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Aristotle
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1. Aristotle
Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher) was the personal tutor of Alexander the Great and wrote many important works in science and philosophy.

2. Half done
Well begun is half done. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)
Pie chart for 80-20 ruleA software engineering principle, based on the 80-20 rule, is that 80% of the functionality (of a software program) can be achieved with 20% of the (overall) effort. The remaining 20% of the functionality takes 80% of the (overall) effort.


Information sign More: Pareto principle: 80-20 rules

3. Dimensions
Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher) in his works called Metaphysics dealt with the ideas of abstract dimensions of mathematics and the apparent dimensions of reality.

Information sign More: Ephesians 3:18 : From lowest depth to highest height

4. Tutor of Alexander the Great
Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher) was the personal tutor of Alexander the Great who command an army of over 10,000 soldiers traveling over 10,000 miles in 15 years (mostly on foot), never losing a battle, and conquering the known world at the time.

5. Aristotle
Aristotle: Physics books 1-4In the 4th Century BC, Aristotle, personal tutor of Alexander the Great, wrote many important books, including a book on physics or "nature" (i.e., reality).

The modern Greek word "φύση" (FEE-see) ≈ "nature". The modern Greek word "φυσική" (fee-see-KEE) ≈ "physics" which is the study of the reality of time and space as we know it.

6. Metaphysics
Aristotle: MetaphysicsMany years later, in cataloging his works, a collection of works that were hard to categorize were bound together and put after the Aristotle's book on "physics".

This collection of works become known as «τα μετά τα φυσικά», or, literally, "the (book) after the physics" where "physics" had to do, in part, with observed reality, mathematical abstraction, and the correspondence between them.

7. Book
In the "after the physics" book, Aristotle addressed causation, mathematics, a divine creator(s), etc. The word "metaphysics" became known as heavenly or out-of-world ideas (religious, etc.).

A recurring theme in Aristotle's work on "metaphysics" was that of separating logical reality from physical reality.

8. Book
A useful $13 book (Spring 2021), no commentary, just the text, is Aristotle's Metaphysics in English Latin and Ancient Greek from Hermes Language Reference. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1973405368.

9. Teaching method
The Apostle Paul, and many others, have often used a teaching method demonstrated and used by Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher) , personal tutor of Alexander the Great, some 400 years earlier and still used today. Aristotle does not appear to have defined this method. He just used it a lot and others copied him.

10. Eristic reasoning
The word "eristic", as in a reasoning process, goes back to Aristotle and is discussed in his works Prior analytics and Sophistical refutations (and referenced from his other works).

Aristotle did not like the idea of "sophists" using bad logic to make money from people by convincing them of things that were not true. These things were often the things that these people wanted to hear. This is similar to a false prophet in the Bible, a false teacher throughout history. etc.

11. Logic: syllogisms
Men mortal die syllogism
Logical reasoning in Greek philosophy often took the form of a syllogism that uses deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion.

Some people think syllogisms are "silly" and will use the pun "sillygism" to refer to a "syllogism".

Information sign More: Logic: syllogisms
Aristotle

12. Wisdom
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

13. Mental tolerance
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

14. Education
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

15. Patience
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

16. Educated
The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

17. War and peace
It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

18. Truth
The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

19. Friends
A friend to all is a friend to none. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

20. Poverty
Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

21. Equality
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

22. Teaching
Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

A typical modern progression in teaching is the following, partly tongue-in-cheek but with some basis in reality.

23. Humor
The secret to humor is surprise. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

24. Art
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

25. Meaning and interpretation
The ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς""interpreter" was introduced to science and philosophy by Aristotle in his work entitled "Περὶ Ἑρμηνεία""About meaning".

The Latin title is "De Interpretatione""On Interpretation" .

26. Sophistic refutations
Book: On Sophistic Refutations
Aristotle wrote a book called On Sophistic Refutations in which he detailed the "false reasoning" used by Sophists (from the Greek word for "wisdom") who would use invalid logic to convince others of ideas to make money for themselves. In English, "sophistic" logic or "false reasoning" is "sophistry".
One of the many types of invalid logic detailed by Aristotle was "eristic" reasoning. Paul uses that word often but it is often translated, without the "bad logic" connection, as "strife"

Information sign More: Eristic reasoning creates strife and contention

27. Colossians 2: False reasoning
The ancient Greek word "παραλογίζομαι""reason falsely" is used often by Aristotle in his work On sophistic refutations. Paul uses this word in Colossians - a book that uses many Aristotelian words. Apparently "false reasoning" in "teaching" was a problem at the church at Colossae.
Verse routeColossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [kjv]
Verse routeτουτο λεγω ινα μηδεις υμας παραλογιζηται εν πιθανολογια [gnt]
Verse routedecipiatsubtilitate sermonum [v]

The Latin for "enticing words" is "subtle sermons".

One meaning: Beware lest anyone use false reasoning on you with subtle sermons.

Information sign More: Colossians 2:1-23 Philosophy and false reasoning through subtle sermons

28. The actual potency and inner workings of energy
Verse routeGalatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [kjv]
Verse routeο ουν επιχορηγων υμιν το πνευμα και ενεργων δυναμεις εν υμιν εξ εργων νομου η εξ ακοης πιστεως [gnt]

Energy is a word and concept that has ancient roots but had a different meaning in ancient times. Aristotle first used the ancient Greek word "ενέργεια""actuality" for "actuality", literally, "in working".

The ancient Greek word "δύναμις""power, might, strength, potentiality" and is used by Aristotle for something that has "potential". The root word is "work" and is used many times in the LXX (Septuagint) and GNT (Greek New Testament).

Information sign More: The actual potency and inner workings of energy

29. Energy of the mind
The energy of the mind is the essence of life. Aristotle (Greek scientist and philosopher)

The quote means "The actuality/thinking of the mind is the essence/potentiality of life".
Aristotle first coined the ancient Greek word "ενεργεί""actuality" (in his usage) and that means, literally, "inner work" or "in working". That is, "thinking" in contrast to a "potential".

This might be compared and/or contrasted with "I think, therefore I am" from Descartes.

Information sign More: René Descartes

30. Error of the converse
Book: On Sophistic Refutations

In his Sophistic Refutations, Aristotle presents, at length, the fallacy of the affirming of the consequent. This fallacy is often used in marketing. Here is an example. Other names: converse error (logic, not the shoe company), confusion of necessity and sufficiency. Proper reversal of the conditional probability requires Bayes Rule.

Information sign More: Conditional probability
Information sign More: Bayesian statistics and models

31. Show why deceptions was deceptive
Aristotle says that in addition to showing why apparent but false reasoning is false, one should, in addition, show why it appeared to be true.

Recognizing bad reasoning based on what one thinks is true is harder than just turning down the actual "temptation".

Information sign More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

32. Aristotle and coming to be
Aristotle uses the Greek word for "coming to be" or "birth" many times in his works. One of Aristotle's works is the ancient Greek word "Περὶ γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς""On the coming to be and passing away" (of the universe).

English: ... for coming-to-be and passing-away occur when things come together and are dissolved. Loeb #400, p. 166.
Greek: συνιόντων γὰρ καὶ διαλυομένων ἡ γένεσις συμβαίνει καὶ ἡ φθορά. [314b]
Aristotle uses a Greek word for "dissolving" that is not the Greek word translated as "dissolve" in the GNT.

33. Aristotle: Meteorology
Book: Loeb #397 Meteorologica
The ancient Greek word "διάκρινω""separate, distinguish, discern"

Aristotle uses this word often in his work Meteorologica. In this case, the "through separation" is that of "evaporation" or "separation of elements".
English: ... then it must be air and the water that surrounds the earth - for vapour is evaporated water. (Loeb #397, p. 19)
Greek: ...λείπεται δ' ἀέρος καὶ τοῦ περὶ τὴν γῆν πᾶσαν ὕδατος· ἡ γὰρ ἀτμὶς ὕδατος διάκρισίς ἐστιν. [340b]


Information sign More: A haughty and high-up meteor
Information sign More: Discerning doubts about doubts

34. Defining a definition
The ancient Greek word (rough breathing) "ὅρος""boundary, definition" and is the source of the English word "horizon".
Aristotle often emphasizes the importance of "definitions" in identifying bad logic. Of course, Aristotle then defines what he means by a "definition".

English: A definition is a phrase indicating the essence of something. (Loeb#391, p. 281)
Greek: Ἔστι δ´ ὅρος μὲν λόγος ὁ τὸ τί ἦν εἶναι σημαίνων, [Topica, 101b-102a]
The aspirated rough breathing comes through in Latin and into English in the sound of the letter "h". Aristotle used this word for "definition" many times. This was only used for a while in the first century BC and discontinued but persists in ancient Greek notations to this day.

Information sign More: Equivocation deception between names and meanings
Information sign More: Matthew Mustard seeds and moving mountains

35. Hermeneutics
The ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς""interpreter" was introduced to science and philosophy by Aristotle in his work entitled "Περὶ Ἑρμηνεία""About meaning". The Latin title is "De Interpretatione""On Interpretation" .

The word "hermeneutics" comes from the ancient Greek word "ἑρμηνεύς""interpreter" as to the meaning of something. This word appears often in the GNT. The field of "hermeneutics" is the study of the meaning of texts, especially Biblical texts. This includes syntax, semantics and both textual and non-textual (i.e., implied, nonverbal, etc.) meaning.

Information sign More: Syntax and semantics

36. Aristotle: Top down reasoning
English: It is just as the Pythagoreans say, the whole world and all things in it are summed up in the number three; for end, middle and beginning give the number of the whole, and their number is the triad. (Loeb#338)
Greek: Καθάπερ γάρ φασι καὶ οἱ Πυθαγόρειοι, τὸ πᾶν καὶ τὰ πάντα τοῖς τρισὶν ὥρισται· τελευτὴ γὰρ καὶ μέσον καὶ ἀρχὴ τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἔχει τὸν τοῦ παντός, ταῦτα δὲ τὸν τῆς τριάδος. Aristotle: On the Heavens [268a]
Notice how Aristotle says Aristotle says the "everything" while the translation says the "whole world". Some in modern Greek makes a play on words with "everything" and a panda (animal) since the words are spelled and pronounced the same.

Information sign More: Everything and all things: But wait, there's more
Information sign More: Top-down vs. bottom-up

37. Aristotle: Propositions and prayers
The ancient Greek word "προσεύχομαι""pray, vow, request" as in putting forth a "request" or "wish". Aristotle uses the shorter form "εὐχή""prayer,wish".

The modern Greek word "ευχή" (ev-KHEE) ≈ "religious blessing, wish" and has been influenced by the GNT.

English: We call propositions those only that have truth or falsity in them. A prayer is, for instance, a sentence but neither has truth nor has falsity. Let us pass over on such as their study more properly belongs to the province of rhetoric or poetry. (Loeb#325, p. 121)
Greek: ἀποφαντικὸς δὲ οὐ πᾶς, ἀλλ' ἐν ᾧ τὸ ἀληθεύεινψεύδεσθαι ὑπάρχει· οὐκ ἐν ἅπασι δὲ ὑπάρχει, οἷον ἡ εὐχὴ λόγος μέν, ἀλλ' οὔτ' ἀληθὴς οὔτε ψευδής. οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι ἀφείσθωσαν, - ῥητορικῆς γὰρ ἢ ποιητικῆς οἰκειοτέρα ἡ σκέψις,… Aristotle: On Interpretation [17a]

Have you ever heard someone "pray" in a church setting and, in their "prayer", state "propositions" that are "true" or "false"? This happens when someone states a "proposition" in a prayer and implicitly assumes and/or implies that what is said is "true" or "false" (depending on context).

Discuss: Should a religious "prayer" state only "requests" or "wishes" (and the reality background of them) and avoid "propositions" that are "true" or "false"? Explain your reasoning.

Discuss: Should a pastor inject personal opinions on politics or social issues as claims or statements in a prayer? This is often done to convince those in the pews that God has approved of these views.

38. Matthew 6:9-13 Lord's Prayer
Verse routeMatthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [kjv]
Verse route6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [kjv]
Verse route6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. [kjv]
Verse route6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [kjv]
Verse route6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [kjv]

The only part of the Lord's Prayer that is not a "wish" or "request" (except the address part at the beginning) is the part that is not in some Greek manuscripts. The TR (Textus Receptus) appears to have added this part.

Information sign More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations
Information sign More: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 Conversational interactions by prayer

39. Names and things
many to manyAristotle points out that we reason with "names" that represent "things" and not the "things" themselves.
Balance scales tilt rightThis leaves room for deception using words and "apparent logic". When you "drink" a "cup" you are not literally drinking the cup itself.
The English word "equivocation" means a deception by means of making names (or things) equal that are not actually equal. This is sometimes called "doublespeak".

Information sign More: Equivocation deception between names and meanings

40. Equivocation
Example: All men are created equal. Women are not men, so all women are not created equal.

Sometimes equivocation is used to "obfuscate" by using another word.

Future topic Details are left as a future topic.

41. Nature and law and justice
Levels of truthIn his On Sophistic Refutations, Aristotle says that from ancient times, nature (truth) and law (opinion) are opposites and that justice goes with the law (opinion) but not with nature (truth).
English: Nature and Law are opposites, and justice is a good thing according to the law but not according to nature. Loeb #400, p. 73.
Greek: ἐναντία γὰρ εἶναι φύσιν καὶ νόμον, καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην κατὰ νόμον μὲν εἶναι καλόν, κατὰ φύσιν δ´ οὐ καλόν Sophistic Refutations [173b]
Whenever Jesus, Paul, etc., use the word for "righteousness" one must determine from context what is meant. There may be double meanings.

42. Truth and opinion
Levels of truthAristotle continues about "nature" as "truth" and "law" as "opinion".
English: In the view of the ancients what accorded with nature was the truth. While what accorded with law was the general opinion of mankind. Loeb #400, p. 73.
Greek: Ἦν δὲ τὸ μὲν κατὰ φύσιν αὐτοῖς τὸ ἀληθές, τὸ δὲ κατὰ νόμον τὸ τοῖς πολλοῖς δοκοῦν. Sophistic Refutations [173b]

43. Aristotle: Sophistic Refutations
English: Again, Is what the learner learns that which he learns? A man learns a slow march quick; it is not then what he learns that is meant but how he learns it. Again, Does a man trample on that through which he walks? But he walks through the whole day. Was not what was meant not what he walks through but when he walks? Just as when we talk of a man drinking a cup, we refer not to what he drinks but to that out of which he drinks. (Loeb#100, p. 115-117)
Greek: Καὶ "Ἆρ´ ὃ μανθάνει ὁ μανθάνων, τοῦτ´ ἔστιν ὃ μανθάνει; μανθάνει δέ τις τὸ βραδὺ ταχύ. " Οὐ τοίνυν ὃ μανθάνει ἀλλ´ ὡς μανθάνει εἴρηκεν. Καὶ "Ἆρ´ ὃ βαδίζει τις πατεῖ; βαδίζει δὲ τὴν ἡμέραν ὅλην. " Ἢ οὐχ ὃ βαδίζει ἀλλ´ ὅτε βαδίζει εἴρηκεν, οὐδὲ τὸ τὴν κύλικα πίνεινπίνει ἀλλ´ ἐξ οὗ. Aristotle: Sophistic Refutations [189a]

44. Diminutive: cup
The ancient Greek word "ποτήριον""cup" as a diminutive of the ancient Greek word "ποτήρ""cup" and from the ancient Greek word "πίνω""drink".

It is the source of the English word "pottery".

Information sign More: Matthew 23:26 Cleaning the cup and bowl
Information sign More: Diminutives

45. Aristotle: Physics
In his work on Physics, Aristotle is refuting a claim by Anaxagoras.

English: Besides, since the subtraction of anything from a given body must reduce the size of that body, and since a mass of flesh cannot be indefinitely great or small, it is clear that from the minimum of flesh no other body can be extracted, for that would reduce it below its minimum. (Loeb #228, p. 47)
Greek: πρὸς δὲ τούτοις, εἰ ἅπαν μὲν σῶμα ἀφαιρεθέντος τινὸς ἔλαττον ἀνάγκη γίγνεσθαι, τῆς δὲ σαρκὸς ὥρισται τὸ ποσὸν καὶ μεγέθει καὶ μικρότητι, φανερὸν ὅτι ἐκ τῆς ἐλαχίστης σαρκὸς οὐθὲν ἐκκριθήσεται σῶμα· ἔσται γὰρ ἐλάττων τῆς ἐλαχίστης. [188a]

46. Matthew 5:14 Hill climbing potential
Verse routeMatthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
Verse routeυμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη [gnt]

In Greek philosophy (e.g., Aristotle), the word in the GNT often translated as "energy" or "work" is that of "actuality". In the same manner, the word often translated as "power" is that of "potentiality". In modern OOP (Object Oriented Programming) programming terms: This is especially true for the writings of Paul since he was writing to a Greek audience who would have understood those parts of Greek philosophy.

Information sign More: The actual potency and inner workings of energy
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Information sign More: Matthew 5:14: Light of the world

47. End of page

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