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. 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. Only later, after having read alfarabis, purposes of the metaphysics of aristotle, did he understand aristotles book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of metaphysics by aristotle. But in aristotle s metaphysics, at the heart of his philosophy, such separation removes any intelligibility and meaning to the world. 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. Also covered are different kinds of causation, form and matter, the existence of mathematical objects, and a primemover god. Stefan grossmann aristotle s metaphysics a commentary vol 1. A substantial philosophical commentary guides the reader through the work. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or.
Laura castellis commentary has the merit of filling an. A complete english edition of a key book from one of the most influential of philosophical works. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The aristotles metaphysics community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. The clarendon aristotle series is designed for both students and professionals. Aristotles metaphysics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. A complete english edition of a key book from one of the most influential of philosophical. But aristotle himself did not use that title or even describe his field of study as metaphysics. Aristotle develops this general account in book iota of the metaphysics.
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. It examines what can be asserted about any being insofar as it is and not because of any special qualities it has. 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. For interpreting the metaphysics positive henology, two such theses are especially important. 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. 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 aristotle s metaphysics.
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. Physics as he understood it was equivalent to what would now be called natural philosophy, or the study of nature physis. 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 volumes in the series have been widely welcomed and. The books, in order, are alpha, alpha the lesser, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota, kappa, lambda, mu, and nu. Metaphysics aristotle project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. Though all fourteen books treat certain common themes, many of them are. Aristotle has argued that substance is that which exists fundamentally.
Stefan grossmann aristotle s metaphysics a commentary vol. 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. 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. Laura castelli presents a new translation of the tenth book iota of aristotle s metaphysics, together with a comprehensive commentary. Metaphysics is a major work of philosophy by the classical greek writer and philosopher. Laura castellis commentary has the merit of filling an important gap in aristotelian scholarship, offering an analysis which appeals both to the. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. 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 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 principal subject is being qua being, or being understood as being. Aristotles metaphysics defends a number of theses about oneness to hen. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Metaphysics is one of the principal works of aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. 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. 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 metaphysics aristotle translated with an introduction by hugh lawsontancred. 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. 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. Arabic and islamic metaphysics stanford encyclopedia of. 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.
Christopher kirwan 1971 clarendon aristotle series. 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. 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. Aristotles metaphysics is divided into fourteen books, which are usually named after the first thirteen letters of the greek alphabet. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses. 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. The principal subject is being qua being, or being insofar as it is being. 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. 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.
The tenth book iota is by far one of the least studied, and commented upon, of aristotles metaphysics. 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of aristotle 384322 b. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Aristotle divided the theoretical sciences into three groups. Book iota clarendon aristotle kindle edition by laura m. The internet classics archive metaphysics by aristotle. 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. It provides accurate translations of selected aristotelian texts, accompanied by incisive commentaries that focus on philosophical problems and issues. In chapter 1 of book 9 theta, aristotle states that to understand unity requires understanding potentiality and actuality.