The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 18/Sketch of the Character of Aristotle

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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18
(c. 1710–1730)
by Jonathan Swift, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

Sketch of the Character of Aristotle

Remarks on the Characters of the Court of Queen Anne

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1690955The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18
— Sketch of the Character of Aristotlec. 1710-1730Jonathan Swift

SKETCH OF THE CHARACTER

OF

ARISTOTLE^[1].

ARISTOTLE, the disciple of Plato, and tutor to Alexander the Great. His followers were called peripateticks, from a Greek word which signifies to walk, because he taught his disciples walking. We have not all his works, and some of those which are imputed to him are supposed not genuine. He writ upon logick, or the art of reasoning; upon moral and natural philosophy; upon oratory, poetry, &c. and seems to be a person of the most comprehensive genius that ever lived.

↑ This fragment is preserved in the Essay of Deane Swift, esq., who tells us, "he transcribed it without any variation; and that "he found it by accident in a little book of instructions, which Dr. Swift was pleased to draw up for the use of a lady, enjoining her to get it all by heart." — Having mentioned the character given by the dean of this philosopher in the Battle of the Books, Mr. Swift observes, "The portrait of Aristotle is equally strong and masterly; he stooped much, and made use of a staff; that is, he thought, he considered, he ruminated; he pondered deeply on the most intricate and abstruse points relating to the sciences; and, by the force of reasoning, which is meant by his staff, he cleared his way through briars and thorns, until he struck into the road which leads to science and philosophy. The remaining part of Aristotle's portrait is only the representation of an abstracted scholar, worn away and decayed with years, hard study, nocturnal lucubrations, and the want of bodily exercise.'* Essay, page 283.

[1] This fragment is preserved in the Essay of Deane Swift, esq., who tells us, "he transcribed it without any variation; and that "he found it by accident in a little book of instructions, which Dr. Swift was pleased to draw up for the use of a lady, enjoining her to get it all by heart." — Having mentioned the character given by the dean of this philosopher in the Battle of the Books, Mr. Swift observes, "The portrait of Aristotle is equally strong and masterly; he stooped much, and made use of a staff; that is, he thought, he considered, he ruminated; he pondered deeply on the most intricate and abstruse points relating to the sciences; and, by the force of reasoning, which is meant by his staff, he cleared his way through briars and thorns, until he struck into the road which leads to science and philosophy. The remaining part of Aristotle's portrait is only the representation of an abstracted scholar, worn away and decayed with years, hard study, nocturnal lucubrations, and the want of bodily exercise.'* Essay, page 283.

[1]

The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 18/Sketch of the Character of Aristotle

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