This article by Walter Johannes Stein is focusing on the main theme in the philosophy of Aristotle: the content of the school Aristotle had in Mieza. The Ten Categories form its core teaching – which, according to W.J. Stein’s description of Aristotle, bear an esoteric secret that only the “initiation of true discipleship” can unveil. As W.J. Stein points out, Aristotle became conscious of the Ten Categories the night Alexander the Great was born. It was only natural then, that in the School of Mienza, Aristotle worked together with Alexander, among other pupils.
Interestingly, the School, with at its core the Ten Categories, entailed not only a content of thinking but also much more of looking and thinking together. This methodology, perceiving through the individual senses, but forming an understanding together, is a most important tool in today’s political and economic turmoil.
Especially in the social realm we need more than ever new concepts that are not harmful but fruitful to life: concepts that were formed by working together. For example, the growing Occupy Movement is already resulting in a multitude of new concepts and ideas. Yet which concepts will be fruitful and which not? Working with the categories of Aristotle in the way it is explained in this article by W. J. Stein can help to find new ways of thinking together, ensuring that the resulting concepts are in harmony with the life of the planet and her inhabitants.
Please find W. J. Stein’s article here.
And here is a suggested link to an (English) online edition of the Ten Categories.
I follow your blog with keen interest, including those posts before and after this one, and wish to compliment you on the spread and range of each article. These are lucid and succinct and, with some prior knowledge, easy to internalise. Moreover, your reference to current events makes the work of Dunlop and Stein all the more relevant today, such as Aristotle’s practice of thinking together as a possible modus operandi for, say, the burgeoning Occupy Movement (your post, October 31, 2011).
Since my particular interest lies with Stein’s karmic biography, and his connection to Francisco de Almeida specifically, I wish to point out a historical reference which seems to be overlooked (your post, November 2, 2010): Portugal’s overseas expansion and the foundation of a global economy in the 16th century would not have been possible without the existence of an Arab/Muslim trade network, nor without Africa’s bountiful gold resources. In fact, without Africa’s gold the West could not have offset its debts with the East. As for the religious origins of gold (yours again, October 16, 2010), it was indeed gold that brought economic stability to Europe after the Fall of Constantinople. It is thus interesting to note that Almeida helped to establish matters on both fronts: he sent the first European expedition into the interior, c. 1505, via Mozambique/Zimbabwe, hoping to find the fabled empire of Monomotapa and, c.1509, following his victory at the Battle of Diu, wrested sea power from the combined Ottoman/Turkish/Egyptian fleets. This secured Europe’s dominance in these waters until well into the 20th century. In this regard both Dunlop and Stein’s karma are set on an East-West axis too.
Herewith I merely wish to point out that Grail Christianity/Anthroposophy is not an isolated impulse in our world. While it may belong to the “hermetic tradtion” of the West, it is still part of our collective and, often, bloody or messy history. As for Almeida’s murder at the Cape of Good Hope, yes, he certainly deserves his place in world history, as his ritual execution was a turning point in the history of sub-Saharan Africa—from the Congo River to the Mozambique Channel.
Lastly, your metaphor of a modern, ever-recurrent Grail knight is an intriguing one (August 8, 2010). To my mind, Prince Henry’s navigators replaced the knights of Charlemagne as the voyages of discovery replaced the crusades—though yes, it is true, they all shared the same vocation. From what I understand, finally, this hermetic tradition has undergone three phases: Grail, Templar and Rosicrucian. In that case, I guess, you may argue that Anthroposophists are, inter alia, the bearers of this tradition today?
For some new insights into Almeida’s murder—and its relationship to Aristotle’s manuscript, the Sierra Nevada—please read the novel Knot of Stone: the day that changed South Africa’s history (2011) or see http://www.knotofstone.com for more details.
My very best wishes for the year ahead.
Nicolaas Vergunst