A case for contemplation

In Book X, Aristotle makes a claim that the contemplative life is best. I really enjoyed this book, probably more than any other because of the vivid examples he uses here. Firstly, Aristotle makes a couple of claims about Contemplation:

• Contemplation is the activity of reason
• “Contemplation is superior in serious worth”
• Contemplation “aims at no end beyond itself”
• it is “self-sufficient”
• it is done in leisure
• We can never grow tired of it (as much as is possible for man)

Firstly, with contemplation being the activity of reason. It makes a great deal of sense as why he refers to the contemplative life as the best life to live. Reason, ” whether it be itself also divine or only the most divine element in us”, is what sets us apart from animals as humans. Our reasoning ability connects us to the divine. I like how Dr. Schultz commented in class that when we contemplate, we are in fact taking part in the mind of God and we are being like him. That really changes my perspective on how i even view the capacity to really think and interact with reason.

He views this lifestyle of contemplation as a life that is constantly interacting with reason. And since reason is divine, why wouldn’t we want to interact with it?  He shows that

• a life according to reason is best and pleasantest, since reason more than anything else is man.

Then he goes on to explain how the reason must also be in action, This is where contemplation comes in. He makes this wonderful case for contemplation by explaining the activity of the gods.

1. Gods are happy and blessed
2. Gods don’t commit acts of mercy or justice or temperance  or bravery.
3. Yet they live and are active, rather than asleep

“Now if you take away from a living being action, and still more production, what is left but contemplation?”

So now he concludes that the life lived by the gods, who are the most happy and blessed, is a contemplative life. Therefore, we, who desire lives of happiness must also live this type of life.

I find this amazing and interesting because Aristotle highly regard contemplation. To him, contemplation is the activity where we interact with reason (the divine). I do not usually view contemplation as an activity. But he makes his process of thinking something magicial.