One and Many in Aristotle's Metaphysics: The central booksThe problem of the one and the many is central to ancient Greek philosophy, but surprisingly little attention has been paid to Aristotle's treatment of it in the Metaphysics. This omission is all the more surprising because the Metaphysics is one of our principal sources for thinking that the problem is central and for the views of other ancient philosophers on it. The Central Books of the Metaphysics are widely recognized as the most difficult portion of a most difficult work. Halper uses the problem of the one and the many as a lens through which to examine the Central Books. What he sees is an extraordinary degree of doctrinal cogency and argumentative coherence in a work that almost everyone else supposes to be some sort of patchwork. Rather than trying to elucidate Aristotle's doctrines--most of which have little explicitly to do with the problem, Halper holds that the problem of the one and the many, in various formulations, is the key problematic from which Aristotle begins and with which he constructs his arguments. |
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One and Many in Aristotle's Metaphysics: The Central Books Edward C. Halper No preview available - 2005 |
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absurd accidental composites accidents animal aporia Aris Aristotelian Aristotle argues Aristotle claims Aristotle's argument Aristotle's Metaphysics artifacts asserts assumption attributes belong book Z called ousiai candidates for ousia cause of unity central books chapter contains defined definition discussion distinct doctrine earlier efficient cause essence of white example exist explain form and matter form or essence formula of white function G. E. L. Owen genera genus identifies identity incomposites individual infinite regress inquiry insofar interpretation lack material substrate motion nature non-ousiai Notes on Zeta numeric unity Owens Parmenides particular passage Phronesis Platonic forms Platonists plurality Posterior Analytics potency predicated primary ousia principle prior priority problem proper matter pros hen question reason refer Ross seems sense sensible ousiai separate snub nose Socrates species theoretical science thing and essence tion truth types of unity ultimate differentia unity of form universal unmoved mover