Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The aristotles metaphysics community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Laura castellis commentary has the merit of filling an important gap in aristotelian scholarship, offering an analysis which appeals both to the. The 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of aristotle 384322 b. But aristotle himself did not use that title or even describe his field of study as metaphysics. Laura castellis commentary has the merit of filling an important gap in aristotelian scholarship, offering an analysis which appeals both to the philosopher and to the historian of philosophy. Laura castellis commentary has the merit of filling an. His writings, which were of extraordinary range, profoundly affected the whole course of ancient and medieval philosophy and are still eagerly studied and debated by philosophers today.
The explicit encomiastic references to aristotle occurring at the beginning with extensive paraphrastic excerpts of metaphysics alpha elatton and the abrupt switch to the themes of book lambda albeit treated in an unaristotelian vein confirm that the onesided theologizing approach to the metaphysics is directed at showing the. The metaphysics aristotle translated with an introduction by hugh lawsontancred. He begins by reiterating and refining some of what he said in that being is said in many ways, and that the primary sense of being is the sense in which substances are beings. Aristotles probing inquiry into some of the fundamental problems of philosophy, the metaphysics is one of the classical greek foundationstones of western thought the metaphysics presents aristotles mature rejection of both the platonic theory that what we perceive is just a pale reflection of reality and the hardheaded view that all processes are ultimately material. In book theta of the metaphysics aristotle introduces the concepts of actuality and potentialitywhich were to remain central to philosophical analysis into the modern eraand explores the distinction between the actual and the potential. The most difficult book of the fourteen constituent books of the metaphysics is identified as book iota book ten, first book of the late books, since that is the book that requires the volumes 2 and 3 of this commentary presenting exotic stuff both from modern scientific esotericism and traditional merkaba wisdom of the lightbody of man. May 27, 2004 aristotle 384322 bc studied at the academy of plato for 20 years and then established his own school and research institute the lyceum. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Ens dicitur multipliciterthe word being is meant in many ways metaphysics is one of the principal works of aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. Book iota treats the topic of unity, which is important to aristotle because he has argued in book zeta that both a substance and its definition are unities. Castelli presents a new translation and comprehensive commentary of the tenth book iota of aristotles metaphysics, which provides aristotles most systematic account of what it is for something to be one, what it is for something to be a unit of measurement, what contraries are, and what the function of contraries is in shaping the structure of reality into genera and species. He argued instead that the reality or substance of things lies in their concrete forms, and in so doing he probed some of the deepest questions of philosophy.
Castellis commentary helps readers to understand aristotles most systematic account of what it is for something to be one, what it is for something to be a unit of measurement, and what contraries are. The principal subject is being qua being, or being understood as being. Metaphysics as a branch of philosophyconcerning the most fundamental level of realityoriginated with aristotle, who produced a work that is known as the metaphysics. The tenth book iota is by far one of the least studied, and commented upon, of aristotle s metaphysics. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of metaphysics by aristotle. Castelli presents a new translation and comprehensive commentary of the tenth book iota of aristotle s metaphysics, which provides aristotle s most systematic account of what it is for something to be one, what it is for something to be a unit of measurement, what contraries are, and what the function of contraries is in shaping the. Book iota clarendon aristotle kindle edition by laura m. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Book iv makes metaphysics an enquiry into the causes of being qua being, an enquiry made possible by the fact that all senses of being are related to a single central notion, the notion of substance.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Book vi argues that the highest science must study the highest genus of substance, which is the divine, and hence this science must be theology. Stefan grossmann aristotle s metaphysics a commentary vol. Third, aristotle identifies actuality with form, which is in turn related to substance, which is the most fundamental thing that there is. Translated with an introduction and commentary by laura m. Aristotles metaphysics defends a number of theses about oneness to hen. But in aristotle s metaphysics, at the heart of his philosophy, such separation removes any intelligibility and meaning to the world. Aristotles metaphysics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Metaphysics is one of the principal works of aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. Aristotle develops this general account in book iota of the metaphysics. Stefan grossmann aristotle s metaphysics a commentary vol 1. Castelli presents a new translation and comprehensive commentary of the tenth book iota of aristotles metaphysics, which provides aristotles most systematic account of what it is for something to be one, what it is for something to be a unit of measurement, what contraries are, and what the function of contraries is in shaping the. The metaphysics aristotle translated with an introduction by hugh lawsontancred preface introduction the metaphysicsbook alpha book alpha the lesser book beta book gamma book delta book epsilon book zeta book eta book theta book iota book kappa book lambda book mu book nu bibliography show more.
For interpreting the metaphysics positive henology, two such theses are especially important. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. The translation, which was made at 2004, is preliminary and its publication was intended to provide a didactic tool for courses as well as a provisional resource in research seminars. The problem of the one and the many is central to ancient greek philosophy, but surprisingly little attention has been paid to aristotles treatment of it in the metaphysics. As well as actual existence, there is potential existence. The tenth book iota is by far one of the least studied, and commented upon, of aristotles metaphysics. It provides accurate translations of selected aristotelian texts, accompanied by incisive commentaries that focus on philosophical problems and issues. Physics as he understood it was equivalent to what would now be called natural philosophy, or the study of nature physis.
Preface introduction the metaphysicsbook alpha book alpha the lesser book beta book gamma book delta book epsilon book zeta book eta book theta book iota book kappa book lambda book mu book nu bibliography. A substantial philosophical commentary guides the reader through the work. Also covered are different kinds of causation, form and matter, the existence of mathematical objects, and a primemover god. Christopher kirwan 1971 clarendon aristotle series. Nowhere is this more evident than in the metaphysics ibn sina avicenna, one of the greatest medieval islamic philosophers, said that he had read the metaphysics of aristotle forty times, but still did not understand it. The metaphysics presents aristotles mature rejection of both the platonic theory that what we perceive is just a pale reflection of reality and the hardheaded view that all processes are ultimately material. The books, in order, are alpha, alpha the lesser, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota, kappa, lambda, mu, and nu. Arabic and islamic metaphysics stanford encyclopedia of.
Only later, after having read alfarabis, purposes of the metaphysics of aristotle, did he understand aristotles book. The principal subject is the nature of being itself, and what can be asserted about any being by its nature, rather than any special qualities it has. Plato, in his theory of forms, separates the sensible world appearances of the intelligible world ideas and the intelligible world was the only reality, the foundation of all truth. Aristotle has argued that substance is that which exists fundamentally. The clarendon aristotle series is designed for both students and professionals. Metaphysics is a major work of philosophy by the classical greek writer and philosopher.
The volumes in the series have been widely welcomed and. Aristotle divided the theoretical sciences into three groups. Metaphysics is a major work of philosophy by the classical greek writer and philosopher aristotle, considered one of his principal works and the first major work of philosophy within the field. A complete english edition of a key book from one of the most influential of philosophical works. A complete english edition of a key book from one of the most influential of philosophical. Metaphysics aristotle project gutenberg selfpublishing. The aristotles metaphysics community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. In chapter 1 of book 9 theta, aristotle states that to understand unity requires understanding potentiality and actuality. It examines what can be asserted about any being insofar as it is and not because of any special qualities it has. The internet classics archive metaphysics by aristotle. Aristotles metaphysics is divided into fourteen books, which are usually named after the first thirteen letters of the greek alphabet. Laura castelli presents a new translation of the tenth book iota of aristotle s metaphysics, together with a comprehensive commentary. Though all fourteen books treat certain common themes, many of them are. The principal subject is being qua being, or being insofar as it is being.