Hey friend, ready to power‑lift your mind?
Aristotle gives us the OG blueprint: get to the ROOTS, the ἀρχαί (archai), or you’re just building castles on sand. Below are four pump‑up passages—straight from the Stagirite—so you can dead‑lift your thinking to the next level.
1. Metaphysics I.1 —
Wisdom = knowing those roots
“All men suppose what is called Wisdom to deal with the first causes and the principles of things… Clearly then Wisdom is knowledge about certain principles and causes.”
— Metaphysics I (980b/981a)
Take‑away: Aristotle says REAL wisdom is root knowledge. Ask yourself: Do I actually know the first causes behind my craft, my hustle, my life mission?
2. Physics I.1 —
No principles? No knowledge.
“When the objects of an inquiry… have principles, conditions, or elements, it is through acquaintance with these that knowledge is attained. For we do not think we know a thing until we are acquainted with its primary conditions or first principles, and have carried our analysis as far as its simplest elements.”
— Physics I (184a10‑15)
Power move: Strip any topic to its “simplest elements.” That’s how you actually know something—whether it’s photography settings, business models, or your morning coffee ritual.
3. Posterior Analytics I.3 —
First principles are INDEMONSTRABLE
(and that’s okay!)
“The premisses must be primary and indemonstrable; otherwise they will require demonstration in order to be known… Our own doctrine is that not all knowledge is demonstrative: knowledge of the immediate premisses is independent of demonstration.”
— Posterior Analytics I (71b‑72a)
Mind‑hack: Not everything can be proved step‑by‑step. Some truths you grasp directly (Aristotle calls this nous, intuitive insight). Trust that spark—then build your logic on it.
4. Nicomachean Ethics VI.6‑7 —
Intuition (Nous) grabs the first principles
“There are of course certain first principles in all demonstrations… The faculty that grasps the first principles cannot be Knowledge, Art, or Practical Wisdom; the last, namely Intuition, must be the one which performs this function.”
— Nicomachean Ethics VI (1141a5‑10)
Action cue: Sharpen your intuition reps. Sketch, journal, wander—whatever sparks insight. That’s the mental muscle that seizes first principles before the syllogisms start.
HOW TO LIFT THESE QUOTES OFF THE PAGE 💪
- Zoom out, then in. Start broad (“Why does this matter?”) and drill down until you hit bedrock.
- Question every layer. Keep asking “But why?” until answers run out—that silence is a first principle.
- Trust your flash of clarity. That’s nous firing. Capture it; act on it.
- Build upward with logic. Once roots are solid, stack your arguments, projects, or creative work tall and proud.
- Repeat daily. First‑principle thinking is a workout—consistency > intensity.
FINAL HYPE
Remember, Aristotle’s message is simple but savage: If you don’t know your first principles, you don’t know—period. So dive deep, grip those roots, and craft a life (and art) that stands unshakable.
Now go forth and DOMINATE your mental dead‑lifts! 🏋️♂️🔥