Knowledge and Power in “Secretum secretorum” of Pseudo-Aristotle

The article is dedicated to a text, which, being a translation, became influential in the Old Russian culture – “Secretum Secretorum”, also known as “Aristotelian Gates”. It is considered to be connected to the so-called Judaisers. But, so far as different sources make it evident, even a larger intellectual area including the circle of the Great Prince was under its influence. The treatise is composed as a series of precepts concerning the principles of ruling ascribed to Aristotle. The fundamental theme of the treatise is a “secret knowledge” considered necessary for a prince to exert his power as efficiently as possible. The article provides an interpretation of some key concepts, which elucidate the connection between power and knowledge.