Aristotle, Metaphysics Lambda (Clarendon Aristotle Series)

The Clarendon Aristotle Series is designed for both students and professionals. It provides accurate translations of selected Aristotelian texts, accompanied by incisive commentaries that focus on philosophical problems and issues. The volumes in the series have been widely welcomed and favourably reviewed. Important new titles are being added to the series, and a number of well-established volumes are being reissued with revisions and/or supplementary material. Lindsay Judson provides a rigorous translation of the twelfth book ( Lambda ) of Aristotle's Metaphysics and a detailed philosophical commentary. Lambda is an outline for a much more extended work in metaphysics - or more accurately, since Aristotle does not use the term 'metaphysics', in what he calls 'first philosophy', the inquiry into 'the principles and causes of all things'. Aristotle discusses the principles of natural and changeable substances, which include form, matter, privation and efficient cause; he argues that principles of this sort are, at least by analogy, the principles of non-substantial items as well. In the second half of the book he turns to unchanging, immaterial substances, first arguing that there must be at least one such substance, which he calls 'God', to act as the 'prime unmoved mover', the source of all change in the natural world. He then explores the nature of God and its activity of thinking (it is the fullest exposition there is of Aristotle's extraordinary and very difficult conception of his supreme god, its goodness, and its activity), and in the course of arguing for a plurality of immaterial unmoved movers he provides important evidence for the leading astronomical theory of his day (by Eudoxus) and for his own highly impressive cosmology. The commentary on each chapter or pair of chapters is preceded by a Prologue, which sets the scene for Aristotle's often very compressed discussion, and explores the general issues raised by that discussion. The Introduction discusses the place of Lambda in the Metaphysics , and offers a solution to the problem of the unity of Aristotle's project in the book. Cover ARISTOTLE: Metaphysics: Book Λ Copyright Dedication PREFACE CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ARISTOTLE OTHER ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION 1. Metaphysics Λ 2. The Name ‘Metaphysics’ and the Book Metaphysics 3. The Structure of Λ and its Independence from its Location in the Metaphysics 4. Problems for the Unity of Λ 5. The Unity of Λ TRANSLATION CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 COMMENTARY CHAPTER 1 (1069a18–b2) PROLOGUE 1. Substance: A Very General Account 2. The Doctrine of the Categories: The Categories Account 3. Further Developments COMMENTARY 1069a18-19 1069a19-26 1069a26-30 1069a30-6 1069a36-b2 CHAPTER 1 (1069b3–7) AND CHAPTER 2 PROLOGUE 1. Context and Purpose 2. ‘Opposites’ 3. ‘Something which Underlies’ 4. How Aristotle Arrives at Matter as a Principle 5. What are Matter, Form, and Privation Principles of in Phys. I and Λ.2, and How are they Related to Change? COMMENTARY CHAPTER 1 1069b3–7 and CHAPTER 2 1069b7–9 1069b3 1069b3-9 CHAPTER 2 1069b9–34 1069b9-14 1069b14-32 1069b32-4 CHAPTER 3 PROLOGUE 1. The Structure of the Chapter and its Role in Λ 2. Substance Again 3. The Range of Composite Substances COMMENTARY 1069b35-1070a4 1070a4-9 1070a9-13 1070a13-20 1070a21-6 1070a26-30 CHAPTERS 4–5 PROLOGUE 1. The Principles of All Things 2. How Does Aristotle Conceive of Principles? 3. Particular Forms COMMENTARY CHAPTER 4 1070a33-b10 1070b10-1071a29 1070b10-21 1070b22-35 CHAPTER 5 1070b36-1071a30 1071a29-b1 1071b1-2 CHAPTERS 6–7 PROLOGUE 1. Aristotle’s Cosmology 2. The Unmoved Movers 3. The Material Nature of the Heavenly Spheres 4. The Arguments of Physics VIII 5. Change and Motion COMMENTARY CHAPTER 6 1071b3-5 1071b5-22 1071b22-1072a7 1072a7-26 CHAPTER 7 1072a26-b4 1072b4-14 1072b14-30 1072b30-1073a3 1073a3-13 CHAPTER 8 PROLOGUE 1. The Composition of Chapter 8 2. Astronomy and Astrophysics COMMENTARY 1073a14-22 1073a22-b1 1073b1-17 1073b17-32 1073b32-8 1073b38-1074a14 1074a14-31 1074a31-8 1074a38-b14 CHAPTER 9 PROLOGUE 1. Nous, Noein, and No
esis 2. The De Anima on Perception and Thought 3. The Subject of Chapter 9 COMMENTARY 1074b15-17 1074b17-21 1074b21-7 1074b28-35 1074b35-1075a5 1075a5-10 EPILOGUE 1. What is Divine Thinking About? 2. How are Immaterial Substances Individuated? Does Chapter 9’s Account of ‘Thinking of What is Best’ Apply to All Immaterial Substances? 3. The Relationship of Chapter 9 to Chapters 6–7 CHAPTER 10 PROLOGUE 1. Cosmic Goodness 2. The Priority of the Prime Mover and the Unity of the Cosmos 3. Presocratic and Platonist Principles COMMENTARY 1075a11-12 1075a12-15 1075a16-25 1075a25-1076a4 NOTES ON THE TEXT SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY GLOSSARY ENGLISH–GREEK GREEK–ENGLISH INDEX LOCORUM GENERAL INDEX The Clarendon Aristotle Series Is Designed For Both Students And Professionals. It Provides Accurate Translations Of Selected Aristotelian Texts, Accompanied By Incisive Commentaries That Focus On Philosophical Problems And Issues. The Volumes In The Series Have Been Widely Welcomed And Favourably Reviewed. Important New Titles Are Being Added To The Series, And A Number Of Well-established Volumes Are Being Reissued With Revisions And/or Supplementary Material.0lindsay Judson Provides A Rigorous Translation Of The Twelfth Book (lambda) Of Aristotle's Metaphysics And A Detailed Philosophical Commentary. Lambda Is An Outline For A Much More Extended Work In Metaphysics - Or More Accurately, Since Aristotle Does Not Use The Term 'metaphysics', In What He Calls 'first Philosophy', The Inquiry Into 'the Principles And Causes Of All Things'. Aristotle Discusses The Principles Of Natural And Changeable Substances, Which Include Form, Matter, Privation And Efficient Cause; He Argues That Principles Of This Sort Are, At Least By Analogy, The Principles Of Non-substantial Items As Well. In The Second Half Of The Book He Turns To Unchanging, Immaterial Substances, First Arguing That There Must Be At Least One Such Substance, Which He Calls 'god', To Act As The 'prime Unmoved Mover', The Source Of All Change In The Natural World. He Then Explores The Nature Of God And Its Activity Of Thinking (it Is The Fullest Exposition There Is Of Aristotle's Extraordinary And Very Difficult Conception Of His Supreme God, Its Goodness, And Its Activity), And In The Course Of Arguing For A Plurality Of Immaterial Unmoved Movers He Provides Important Evidence For The Leading Astronomical Theory Of His Day (by Eudoxus) And For His Own Highly Impressive0cosmology. The Commentary On Each Chapter Or Pair Of Chapters Is Preceded By A Prologue, Which Sets The Scene For Aristotle's Often Very Compressed Discussion, And Explores The General Issues Raised By That Discussion.-- Translated With An Introduction And Commentary By Lindsay Judson. Commentary On Book 12 Of Aristotle's Metaphysics. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From The Ancient Greek. "The Clarendon Aristotle Series is designed for both students and professionals. It provides accurate translations of selected Aristotelian texts, accompanied by incisive commentaries that focus on philosophical problems and issues. The volumes in the series have been widely welcomed and favourably reviewed. Important new titles are being added to the series, and a number of well-established volumes are being reissued with revisions and/or supplementary material.0Lindsay Judson provides a rigorous translation of the twelfth book (Lambda) of Aristotle's Metaphysics and a detailed philosophical commentary. Lambda is an outline for a much more extended work in metaphysics - or more accurately, since Aristotle does not use the term 'metaphysics', in what he calls 'first philosophy', the inquiry into 'the principles and causes of all things'. Aristotle discusses the principles of natural and changeable substances, which include form, matter, privation and efficient cause; he argues that principles of this sort are, at least by analogy, the principles of non-substantial items as well. In the second half of the book he turns to unchanging, immaterial substances, first arguing that there must be at least one such substance, which he calls 'God', to act as the 'prime unmoved mover', the source of all change in the natural world. He then explores the nature of God and its activity of thinking (it is the fullest exposition there is of Aristotle's extraordinary and very difficult conception of his supreme god, its goodness, and its activity), and in the course of arguing for a plurality of immaterial unmoved movers he provides important evidence for the leading astronomical theory of his day (by Eudoxus) and for his own highly impressive0cosmology. The commentary on each chapter or pair of chapters is preceded by a Prologue, which sets the scene for Aristotle's often very compressed discussion, and explores the general issues raised by that discussion."-- Provided by publisher Lambda, the twelfth book of Aristotle's Metaphysics, is an outline for a much more extended work in metaphysics or, more accurately, in what Aristotle calls 'first philosophy', the inquiry into 'the principles and causes of all things'. Lindsay Judson provides a rigorous translation of this important book and a detailed philosophical commentary.