Summary and Analysis
Book VI:
Chapter VII - Theoretical Wisdom
Summary
Theoretical wisdom, the highest and most noble kind of wisdom, is a union of intuition (intelligence) and science, and comprises complete scientific knowledge in combination with an understanding of the true meaning of what intuition deduces from first principles. A man with theoretical wisdom has exact knowledge of all disciplines — physical sciences, metaphysics, mathematics, philosophy, etc. — and an intellect that grasps the truth of fundamental principles, and employs this combination in the contemplation of the highest objects, which can be called ultimate universals. Such disciplines as political science, etc. are concerned with limited things and thus appertain to a lower sphere than theoretical wisdom.