Глава III. О философии

Philosophy is the knowledge of existence as such, i.e. knowledge of the nature of existence. And again: philosophy is the knowledge of Divine and human things, i.e. visible and invisible. In addition, philosophy is the thought of death, both voluntary and natural. For there are two types of life: natural, which we live, and voluntary, due to which we become passionately attached to real life. There are two types of death: natural death, which is the separation of the soul from the body. and arbitrary death, according to which we, neglecting the present life, strive for the future. Then, philosophy is likeness to God. We become like God through wisdom, i.e. through true knowledge of good, as well as through justice, which rewards everyone with their due and impartially judges; finally, through holiness, which is higher than justice, i.e. through goodness and retribution to those who offend with goodness. Philosophy is the art of the arts and the science of the sciences. For philosophy is the beginning of all art: by it every art was invented and every science. Art, according to some, sins in some ways; Science does not err in anything; but philosophy alone does not err (at all). According to others, art is what is performed with the hands. Science will be any mental art: grammar, rhetoric and the like. Moreover, philosophy is the love of wisdom; God is true wisdom. Thus, love of God is true philosophy. Philosophy is divided into theoretical and practical. The theoretical, in turn, is divided into theology, physiology and mathematics, and the practical - into ethics, economics and politics. Theoretical philosophy tends to decorate knowledge. At the same time, theology tends to consider the incorporeal and immaterial: first of all God, truly immaterial, and then the angels and the soul. Physiology is the knowledge of material things that are directly accessible to us, for example, animals, plants, stones, etc. Mathematics is the knowledge of that which in itself is incorporeal, but is contemplated in the body, i.e. numbers, I say, and the harmony of sounds, and, in addition, figures and the movements of the luminaries. In this case, the consideration of numbers constitutes arithmetic, the consideration of sounds constitutes music, the consideration of figures constitutes geometry; finally, consideration of the luminaries - astronomy. All this occupies a middle place between bodies and incorporeal things. Indeed, number itself is incorporeal, but is considered in a body - in bread, for example, or in wine, or in something similar. Practical philosophy deals with virtues, for it organizes morals and teaches how one should organize one’s life. Moreover, if it offers laws to one person, it is called ethics; if for the whole house - the economy; if to cities and countries, - politics. Some have tried to eliminate philosophy, saying that there is no philosophy, and there is no knowledge or understanding. To these we will say: on what basis do you say that there is no philosophy, no knowledge or comprehension? Is it because it was known and comprehended by you, or because it was not known and comprehended? If because it was comprehended, then here is knowledge and comprehension for you; if it is because it has not been known, no one will believe you, since you are discussing a subject about which you have not received any knowledge. So, in view of the fact that there is philosophy and there is knowledge of existence, we will talk about existence. But you should know that first we will deal with the logical part of philosophy: the latter is rather an instrument of philosophy than a part of it, for (philosophy) uses it in any proof. So, we will first talk about simple words, which through simple meanings denote simple things. Having first explained the meaning of words (λεξεώς), let us consider in the same way what concerns speeches. You might be interested in: