The Metaphysics of Aristotle

and considering, not only the divine path, as it were, which conducts to truth, but exploring whether the deviations from it contain anything worthy of belief; and lastly, stimulating the all-various conceptions of the soul. But the second energy takes place when intellect rests from its former investigations, as becoming most familiar with the speculation of beings, and beholds truth itself firmly established upon a pure and holy foundation. And this energy, according to Socrates, by a progression through ideas, evolves the whole of an intelligible nature intelligible nature: The realm of abstract, non-physical realities that can be grasped by the intellect., till it arrives at that which is first; and this by analyzing, defining, demonstrating, and dividing, proceeding upwards and downwards, till, having entirely investigated the nature of intelligibles, it raises itself to a nature superior to beings. But the soul, being perfectly established in this nature, as in her paternal port, no longer tends to a more excellent object of desire, as she has now arrived at the end of her search: and you may say that what is delivered in the Phædrus and Sophista is the employment of this energy, giving a twofold division to some, and a fourfold to other operations of the dialectic art; and, on this account, it is assigned to such as philosophize purely and no longer require preparatory exercise, but nourish the intellect of their soul in pure intellection intellection: The act of understanding or forming an idea; mental perception.. But the third energy, which is exhibitive according to truth, purifies from twofold ignorance That is, when a man is ignorant that he is ignorant; and this is the disease of the multitude., when its reasons are employed upon men full of opinion; and this is spoken of in the Sophista The same incomparable man likewise in the same invaluable work further observes concerning this master science as follows:.”

“The dialectic method is irreprehensible and most expeditious; for it is connate with things themselves, and employs a multitude of powers in order to the attainment of truth. It likewise imitates intellect, from which it receives its principles,