A Focal Passage

As we go through the term together, we shall turn and return to this passage from Aristotle, the opening passage of his Metaphysics:

All men by nature desire to know.  An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness, they are loved for themselves, and above all the sense of sight.  For not only with a view to action, but even when we are not going to do anything, we prefer seeing (one might say) to everything else.  The reason is that this, most of all the senses, makes us know and brings to light many differences between things.  980a22-28

Spend some time considering this passage; weigh it carefully.  Once you have your textbook, you might want to read the entire opening chapter of the Metaphysics.