was reasonable, for he thought all the virtues to be kinds of knowledge, so that to know justice and to be just came simultaneously ; for the moment that we have learned geometry or architecture we are architects and geometers. Therefore he inquired what virtue is, not how or from what it arises. This is correct with regard to theoretical know- ledge, for there is no other part of astronomy or physics or geometry except knowing and contemplating the nature of the things which are the subjects of those sciences ; though nothing prevents them from being in an incidental way use- ful to us for much that we cannot do without. But the end of the productive sciences is different from science and knowledge, e. g. health from medical science, law and order (or something of the sort) from political science. Now to know anything that is noble is itself noble ; but regarding virtue, at least, not to know what it is, but to know out of what it arises is most precious. For we do not wish to know what bravery is but to be brave, nor what justice is but to be just, just as we wish to be in health rather than to know what being in health is, and to have our body in good condition rather than to know what good condition is.
6
About all these matters we must try to get conviction by argument, using perceived facts as evidence and illustration. It would be best that all men should clearly concur with what we are going to say, but if that is unattainable, then that all should in some way at least concur. And this if converted they will do, for every man has some contribution to make to the truth, and with this as a starting-point we must give some sort of proof about these matters. For by advancing from true but obscure judgements he will arrive at clear ones, exchanging ever the usual confused statement for more real knowledge. Now in every inquiry there is a difference between philosophic and unphilosophic argument; therefore we should not think even in political philosophy that the sort of consideration which not only makes the nature of the thing evident but also its cause is superfluous;
20-25 = E, N. 1103b 26-29 : cf. M.M. I. I.
26 sq. = E. N. 1098b 8 sq.
35-1217* 17 : cf. E. N. 1094b 11-27, 10951 30-b13.
