While the work of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy keeps me busy throughout the year, what really drives my work is my own personal pursuit of Wisdom through the study of the classical Catholic curriculum. In my personal studies this year, I am making another study through Aristotle’s works on Natural Philosophy. These include:
- Physics
- On the Heavens
- On Generation & Corruption
- Meteorology
- On Minerals (St. Albert the Great)
- On the Soul
I have two questions I’d like to find answers to this year as I study Natural Philosophy:
- How do the four elements form the compound bodies that we perceive in the world?
- What exactly is Aristotle’s model of the universe?
I have found in my studies that many modern scientists dismiss Aristotle’s philosophy though they have never actually studied it in detail. When, after all, in the education of the modern scientist, is time spent studying the works of Aristotle? (Never.) This prejudiced treatment of Aristotle makes me confident that there’s a reason why they are so zealous to prevent students from reading Aristotle.
As I work to understand Aristotle’s model of the universe, my goal is to produce an accurate illustration of that model. I am starting by preparing a model that I know generally represents Aristotle’s teaching. Then, as I read through the works carefully, I will continually edit this image until it agrees with Aristotle’s teaching in all its details.
Here’s a look at the first draft of this image to allow me to get started:
I know that this model is imperfect, and finding its imperfections is the goal of my studies. I’m planning to adjust the positions of the planets and constellations in the Zodiac and have a model of the heavens for each month of the year.
What questions would you like to find answers to in the writings of the ancients?
If you’d like help arranging your own classical Catholic studies, get in touch.
God bless your studies,
Mr. William C. Michael, Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
mail@classicalliberalarts.com
