The Love of Wisdom and the Nature of Real Things

A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Introduction to Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 1 What does ancient mathematics have to do with eternal truth? In this episode, we explore the first chapter of Nicomachus of Gerasa’s Introduction to Arithmetic—a work that begins not with numbers, but with a meditation on wisdom itself. Long before modern science separated fact from meaning, Nicomachus taught that true knowledge begins with wonder and ends in the contemplation of the divine. 💡 Through a Catholic lens, we unpack Nicomachus’ understanding of philosophy, bodiless realities, and the eternal nature of truth. Drawing from Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas, this video reveals how mathematics can lead the soul upward—from material things to eternal realities. 📏 Topics include: – The definition of philosophy as “love of wisdom” – The difference between changing material things and eternal truths – How mathematics reflects divine order – Why Christian contemplation is rooted in the search for the unchanging 🔔 Whether you're a Catholic student, teacher, or lifelong learner, this reflection will show how ancient philosophy and the Catholic faith together guide us toward what is truly real. 📚 Cited Sources: – Introduction to Arithmetic by Nicomachus – Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas – Confessions and De Musica by St. Augustine – Holy Scripture (Wisdom 6:12, 8:1; 2 Corinthians 4:18; John 1:3) – Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§27, 50 🙏 Produced by Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., Headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy #CatholicPhilosophy #ClassicalEducation #Nicomachus #Pythagoras #Mathematics #Wisdom #StThomasAquinas #StAugustine #CatholicFaith #Contemplation #Arithmetic #FaithAndReason #SacredNumber