Page 93 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

Just as these books were captured in Egypt by the army of Alexander and fell into the hands of
Aristotle, so after Aristotle's death, these very books were destined to be captured by a Roman
army and conveyed to Rome according to the following story taken from the histories of Strabo
and Plutarch:

The books of Aristotle fell into the hands of Theophrastus who succeeded him as Head of his
School. At the death of Theophrastus, they were bequeathed to Neleus of Scepsis. After the death
of Neleus, the books were hidden in a cellar, where they remained for almost two centuries.
When Athens was captured by the Romans in 84 B.C., the books were captured by Sulla and
carried to Rome, where Tyrannio a grammarian secured copies and enabled Andronicus of
Rhodes to publish them. (Strabo; Plutarch; Wm. Turner's Hist. of Phil., p. 128 footnote). (Noct.,
Mt, 20; 5).

The fragmentary character of Aristotle's writings and their lack of unity, reveal the fact that he
himself made notes hurriedly from books while doing his research at the great Egyptian Library.
The ancient teaching method was oral; not by lecture and note taking.

Right here I must repeat that I am convinced that Aristotle represents a culture gap of 5000 years
between his innovation and the Greek level of civilization; because it is impossible to escape the
conviction that he obtained his education and books from a nation outside of Greece, who was
far ahead of the culture of the Greeks of his day, and that was the Egyptians. (B. D. Alexander's
History of Philosophy, p. 92 and 93). (Roger's Student History of Philosophy, p. 104). (Alfred
Weber's History of Philosophy, p. 77 and 78). (Wm. Turner's History of Philosophy, p. 126, 127,
135). (Zeller's History of Philosophy, p. 171–173). (Plutarch's Alexander, c. 8). (Aristotle's
Metaphysics) (Wm. Turner's History of Phil., p. 128 footnote also Noct., Mt., 20; 5). (Strabo).

The so-called books of Aristotle deal with scientific knowledge which was not in circulation
among the Greeks, and consequently, it was impossible, as has already been stated, for him to
have purchased them from other so-called Greek philosophers.

It is for the purpose of concealing the true source of his books and of his education, that history
tells the very strange stories about Aristotle (a) that he spent 20 years, as a pupil under Plato,
whom we know was incompetent to teach him; and (b) that Alexander the Great also gave him
money to buy the large number of books to which his name has been attached; but at the same
time, fails to tell us when, where and from whom Aristotle bought the books.

Furthermore, as already pointed out, Aristotle's review of the doctrines of all previous
philosophers including Plato, together with his exposure of their errors and inconsistencies,
shows that he had become confident not only of the fact that he was in possession of correct
knowledge, one that had not before been made available to the Greeks; but also that he could
then speak with great authority.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook