Teleology, first principles, and scientific method in Aristotle's biology / Allan Gotthelf.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gotthelf, Allan, 1942- author.

Series:

Oxford Aristotle studies.

Oxford Aristotle studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aristotle.

Biology--Philosophy--Early works to 1800.

Biology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 440 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012.

Summary:

This volume draws together Allan Gotthelf's pioneering work on Aristotle's biology. He examines Aristotle's natural teleology, the axiomatic structure of biological explanation, and the reliance on scientifically organized data in the three great works with which Aristotle laid the foundations of biological science.

Contents:

Part I. Teleology, Irreducibility, and the Generation of Animals (GA)

1. Aristotle's Conception of Final Causality

Postscript 1986

2. The Place of the Good in Aristotle's Natural Teleology

3. Understanding Aristotle's Teleology

4. Teleology and Embryogenesis in Aristotle's Generation of Animals II.6

5. 'What's Teleology Got to Do with It?': A Reinterpretation of Aristotle's Generation of Animals V (co-authored with Mariska Leunissen)

6. Teleology and Spontaneous Generation in Aristotle: A Discussion

Part II. First Principles and Explanatory Structure in the Parts of Animals (PA)

7. First Principles in Aristotle's Parts of Animals

8. The Elephant's Nose: Further Reflections on the Axiomatic Structure of Biological Explanation in Aristotle

9. Division and Explanation in Aristotle's Parts of Animals

Part III. Metaphysical Themes in PA and GA

10. Notes towards a Study of Substance and Essence in Aristotle's Parts of Animals II-IV

11. A Biological Provenance: Reflections on Montgomery Furth's Substance, Form and Psyche: An Aristotelean Metaphysics

Part IV. Starting a Science: Theoretical Aims of the History of Animals (HA)

12. Data-Organization, Classification, and Kinds: The Place of the History of Animals in Aristotle's Biological Enterprise

Appendix: A case for the ordering of the books of HA VII-IX and a question about the biological study of man that arises therefrom (co-authored with Pieter Beullens)

13. History of Animals I.6 490b7-491a6: Aristotle's megista gen&amp

#275

14. Historiae I: Plantarum et Animalium

Part V. Aristotle as Theoretical Biologist

15. Darwin on Aristotle

CODA: Aristotle as Scientist: A Proper Verdict (with emphasis on his biological works)

References

Index Locorum

Index of Names.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786613675729

9780191629167

0191629162

9780199287956

0199287953

9781280698767

1280698764

9780191738296

0191738298

OCLC:

794488003