MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 
81 
anil right direction of human life. The three grand 
divisions into which he distributed it were, 1st, Theo- 
retic ; 2d, Efficient ; 3d, Practical ; including under 
the first, Physics, Mathematics, and Theology or Me- 
taphysics ; under the second, Rhetoric, Poetics, and 
Logic or Dialectics, comprehending what are com- 
monly termed the liberal arts ; under the third, Poli- 
tics and Ethics, or the moral sciences. 
The Ethics of Aristotle, as we already observed, 
display a wonderful degree of moral knowledge, 
and practical experience of mankind. Though 
composed amidst the darkness of heathen supersti- 
tion, they abound with pure and just sentiments ; 
and iustead of depressing man to the low standard 
of manners and opinions then existing, they tend to 
elevate him to that perfection which a higher autho- 
rity has pronounced to be an indispensable element 
in the Christian character. They are directed, no 
doubt, solely to the improvement of man in this pre- 
sent life ; but so sound are the principles of conduct 
laid down, that they may be readily extended to those 
nobler views of our nature and destiny opened up 
to us in the inspired volume. To us who live in 
the sunshine of revelation, it may be difficult fully 
to appreciate the reach of thought it required in 
those times to see the science of ethics in its proper 
light, as a refinement of human character in order 
to human happiness. Yet to this merit the Stagi- 
ri.te is fairly entitled ; and no greater praise can be 
given to a writer of heathen morality than to say 
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