Aristotelian Theory of Knowledge: Levels and Classifications
Aristotelian Theory of Knowledge
The study of demonstration, the analysis of the characteristics of science and its divisions, and the determination of the dianoetic virtues are key instances where Aristotle discusses specific knowledge and its features. From these, we can deduce the basic characteristics of knowledge as conceived by Aristotle.
Levels and Degrees of Knowledge
Aristotle distinguishes various levels of knowledge:
- Sense Knowledge: Derived directly from sensation; it is immediate, transient, and disappears once the sensation ceases. This is characteristic of lower animals.
- Memory and Imagination: In higher animals, sensory input mixed with memory and imagination leads to a more persistent type of knowledge.
- Understanding: The highest level of knowledge, which allows us to grasp the why and the cause of objects.
The Three Types of Knowledge
In his Metaphysics, Aristotle categorizes knowledge into three distinct types:
- Productive Knowledge: Aimed at production or manufacture (know-how).
- Practical Knowledge: Refers to the capacity for rational management of behavior, both public and private.
- Contemplative (Theoretical) Knowledge: Does not respond to practical or productive interests; it represents the highest form of knowledge, leading to wisdom.
The Path to True Knowledge
The starting point of all knowledge is sensation and experience, which connects us to individual substances. However, true knowledge is the work of the understanding, which consists of grasping substances through their causes and principles—specifically the formal cause or essence.
The Role of the Understanding
Like Plato, Aristotle believed that knowledge, strictly speaking, requires accounting for the essence of the object. Therefore, true knowledge is knowledge of the universal. Since the human mind is a blank slate at birth, the understanding relies on experience, memory, and imagination to process sensory images. Aristotle distinguishes between two types of understanding: the agent intellect and the patient intellect, which work together to separate the formal from the material.