Aristotle on Metaphysics(2004) - Bibotu.com

THE ULTIMATE EXPLANATIONS OF ALL THINGS 63integral part of the practice of philosophy itself. But especially striking ishis view that previous thinkers, even if they did not adequately recognizeall the four explanations and causes, were at least searching in the rightdirection. Indeed, <strong>Aristotle</strong> suggests that it is the truth itself that directedthem in their searches:From these observations [i.e. that certain thinkers recognized onlymaterial explanations] one may think that the only explanation is ofthe kind that is called the material explanation. But as peopleproceeded like this, the things themselves [auto to pragma] clearedthe way for them and forced them to search [further]. (I. 3, 984 a 16–19)…After these thinkers and such principles [i.e. fundamentalexplanations], and because these principles are not sufficient forgenerating the nature of things, people were forced, again, as we said,by the truth itself [autē he alētheia], to search for the next kind ofprinciple.(984 b 8–11)So <strong>Aristotle</strong> thinks that the things themselves and the truth itself help todirect our searches, and especially to indicate to us puzzles and problems(aporiai) arising from our search for knowledge, and, in particular,explanatory knowledge of things. We will return in the next chapter to thefascinating idea that the source of our puzzles and problems (aporiai) liesnot only in our thinking, but in the things themselves. (We may note thatbook I is continued in book III, which we will turn to next. Book II is onlylater inserted between books I and III.)