Aristotle’s Causal Definitions of the Soul

Ancient Philosophy 44 (2):449-467 (2024)
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Abstract

Does Aristotle offer a definition of the soul? In fact, he rejects the possibility of defining the soul univocally. Because “life” is a homonymous concept, so too is “soul”. Given the specific causal role that Aristotle envisages for form and essence, the soul requires multiple different definitions to capture how it functions as a cause in each form of life. Aristotle suggests demonstrations can be given which express these causal definitions; I reconstruct these demonstrations.

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Cameron F. Coates
Sewanee, The University of the South

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Two Conceptions of Soul in Aristotle.Christopher Frey - 2015 - In David Ebrey, Theory and Practice in Aristotle's Natural Science. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 137-160.
Aristotle: The Collected Papers of Joseph Owens.Joseph Owens - 1981 - State University of New York Press.
Conclusion.[author unknown] - 2010 - In Emily Monosson, Motherhood, the Elephant in the Laboratory: Women Scientists Speak Out. Cornell University Press. pp. 203-208.

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