There is one order that reason does not establish but only beholds, such is the order of things in nature. Now order is related to reason in a fourfold way. For, as the Philosopher says in the eleventh book of the Metaphysics, the order of the parts of an army among themselves exists because of the order of the whole army to the commander. This order is of greater importance than the first. The second order is that of things to an end. One kind is that of parts of a totality, that is, a group, among themselves, as the parts of a house are mutually ordered to each other. Even if the sensitive powers know some things absolutely, nevertheless to know the order of one thing to another is exclusively the work of intellect or reason. The reason for this is that wisdom is the most powerful perfection of reason whose characteristic is to know order. As the Philosopher says in the beginning of the Metaphysics, it is the business of the wise man to order. It does not matter whether the ends are operations themselves or something other than the operations as in the skills mentioned above. He shows that it makes no difference whether the end is a product or an operation. The reason is that men seek the latter for the sake of the former. It follows then that in all these, architectonic ends are more desirable than the ends subordinated to them. In a similar way other arts are subordinated to still others. The art of riding in turn, and all military operations, come under strategy. For instance, the art of bridle-making is subordinated to the art of riding as also are the arts which make riding equipment. In all such skills a subordination of one to another is found. He arranges the order of habits among themselves. Thus the end of medical art is health of shipbuilding, navigation of strategy, victory of domestic economy, riches. Since there are many operations and arts and sciences there must also be different ends for each of them. He shows that different things are ordered to different ends. HE COMPARES HABITS AND ACTS WITH THE END. If the ends are works then the works are better than the operations. Now a certain diversity of ends is apparent, for some are operations while others are works outside the operations. He shows that there can be a number of ends. (9-10)įor this reason it has correctly been proclaimed that good is what all desire. He states… that all human things are ordered to an end.Īll arts and all teaching, and similarly every act and every choice seem to have the attainment of some good as their object. He shows how it is necessary to start with the end. He presents in advance certain things necessary to explain his intention.
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