1. The Proenium and the Order of Natural Philosophy

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

• The Nature of Natural Hearing (Φυσική Ἀκρόασις): Aristotle’s Physics understood as listening to nature as a student listens to a teacher, in contrast to Kant’s model where nature is questioned like a witness in court
• The Proenium vs. the Main Body: The proenium (προοίμιον) briefly states the aim (σκοπός) and method; it is preparatory rather than introductory. Analogous to a prologue in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet or an overture in a symphony
• The Central Epistemological Principle: The confused (ἀσάφης) is naturally known to us before the distinct (σαφής); therefore the general precedes the particular in human knowledge
• The Aim of Natural Philosophy: To know natural things in the light of their causes (ἀρχαί)

Key Arguments #

The If-Then Syllogism #

• Premise 1: If the confused is before the distinct in our knowledge, then the general is before the particular in our knowledge
• Premise 2: The confused is, in fact, before the distinct in our knowledge (demonstrated through examples)
• Conclusion: Therefore, the general is before the particular in our knowledge

The Proportion #

• The general is to the particular as the confused is to the distinct
• This functions like a mathematical proportion: if 2 is before 3, then 4 is before 6
• This proportion holds even though general/particular and confused/distinct are not identical categories

Knowledge of Beginnings, Causes, and Elements #

• When Aristotle says we should “first try to determine about the beginnings,” he means first in our intention (what we are aiming at), not necessarily first in actual knowledge
• We aim at knowing natural things in the light of their causes
• Both “what” and “why” questions are answered through knowledge of causes (as explained in the Posterior Analytics)

Important Definitions #

Beginnings, Causes, and Elements (ἀρχαί, αἴτια, στοιχεῖα) #

• Ἀρχή (Beginning/Arche): Most general term; every cause is a beginning, but not every beginning is a cause (e.g., a point is the beginning of a line but not its cause)
• Αἴτιον (Cause): More particular than beginning; multiple kinds of causes exist (matter, form, mover, end)
• Στοιχεῖον (Element): Most particular; in natural philosophy, typically refers to matter
• These three terms hint at the investigation of different kinds of causes

Confused vs. Distinct Knowledge #

• Confused (ἀσάφης): Indistinct, not yet differentiated into parts; NOT synonymous with “mistaken” (knowing a dog is an animal is confused knowledge, not false knowledge)
• Distinct (σαφής): Differentiated, with parts clearly distinguished
• General knowledge is to particular knowledge as confused is to distinct

Proenium vs. Introduction #

• Προοίμιον (Proenium): States the aim (σκοπός) and method briefly; prepares the way; corresponds to a prologue
• Introduction (misleading translation): Wrongly suggests entering into the matter itself
• Parallel structure exists in other works: Plato’s Timaeus has a proenium; Plato’s Symposium has Socrates as interlocutor who initially listens

Examples & Illustrations #

First Kind: Sensible Composed Wholes (Taste, Smell, Hearing) #

Taste Examples:

• Salad dressing: One tastes a complex sauce and enjoys it without being able to distinguish ingredients. Repeated tasting over time allows one to identify individual components
• Wine tasting: A connoisseur gradually learns to identify grape varieties and regional characteristics (e.g., distinguishing Burgundy blends, identifying basset horn in Mozart’s accompaniment)
• French sauce: Attempting to recreate a Marchand de Vins sauce from a Parisian restaurant requires repeated exposure and experimentation to identify components

Hearing Examples:

• Orchestra as a whole: When first hearing a symphony, one perceives the entire sonic composition as pleasing but cannot distinguish individual instruments
• Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra: Demonstrates pedagogical movement from confused to distinct knowledge by first presenting a theme, then breaking it down into individual instruments playing separately, then recombining them
• Mozart’s Aria: The ear is naturally drawn to the human voice; training is required to distinguish the musical accompaniment and recognize unique instruments (e.g., basset horn)
• Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony: The final movement combines five melodies together, but a listener may not notice this until it is pointed out, requiring musical education to hear distinctly what was previously heard confusedly

Questions Addressed #

How does the proenium differ from an introduction? #

The proenium briefly states the aim (σκοπός) and method; it prepares the way. An introduction suggests entering into the matter itself. The proenium is like a prologue to a play (small, preparatory); the main body is like the play itself (large, detailed development). The distinction is logical (what helps understanding) rather than editorial (what divides the text for reference).

What is the central argument about knowledge? #

If the confused is naturally known to us before the distinct, and the general is to the particular as the confused is to the distinct, then the general must be known to us before the particular. This principle applies across all domains of knowledge and education.

Why do we know things in a confused way first? #

Aristotle indicates this is a fundamental fact about human knowledge, though the “most difficult reason” explaining why requires further investigation (to be addressed in subsequent lectures).

How do the three terms—beginning, cause, element—relate? #

They indicate different kinds of causes that natural philosophy investigates. Beginning is the most general term; cause is more particular; element is most particular (referring to matter). However, Aristotle sometimes uses these terms more loosely, almost synonymously, to suggest the plurality of causes.

Notable Quotes #

“Wisdom is to speak the truth and to act according to nature giving ear thereto.” — Heraclitus (cited by Berquist as foundational to the concept of Physics as listening to nature)

“Since understanding and knowing why in all sciences of which there are beginnings or cause elements come to be from knowing these… it is clear that in the science of nature one should first try to determine about the beginnings.” — Aristotle, Physics, opening paragraph of the first reading

“We listen to nature the basis of what we naturally understand.” — Berquist, summarizing Aristotle’s approach in the Physics