What the arts sector can learn from Aristotle

Image: en.wikipedia.org

Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed that ‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.’ But with endless distractions, busy schedules, and the incessant reminders of what everyone else is creating or doing, knowing yourself can easily become a lofty aspiration that falls to the bottom of the to-list.

But for Aristotle expert Professor Vrasidas Karalis, chair of the University of Sydney’s Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, knowing yourself begins with the arts.

‘The study of the human, of the individual, of the humanities, is probably the most important conclusion we can get from Aristotle and he thought it was important for political societies.’

To mark the 2400^th anniversary of Aristotle’s birth, Karalis presented a Sydney Ideas lecture on the Greek philosopher’s life and legacies, shedding light on their relevancy today.

‘Aristotle is probably the most talked about and most ruthlessly criticised philosopher of the Western world. Historically, no one can dispute the fact that the whole body of European intellectual life was formed either in the process of endorsing Aristotle’s thinking, or by criticising its validity,’ said Karalis.