Aristotle on the Soul (De Anima I.1, I.4, II.1, III.4) History of Ancient Philosophy New York University Guest Lecture by Vera Flocke, November 12, 2018 Why Study Philosophy? Plato Aristotle 2 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? Plato Aristotle 3 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? Plato Aristotle 4 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? Plato Aristotle 5 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? Plato Aristotle \[T]he one aim of those who \All human beings by nature practice philosophy in the desire to know". proper manner is to practice for (Metaphysics I.1, 980a, 20) dying and death". (Phaedo 64a) 6 / 31 Roadmap 1. What is the Soul? 2. What makes us Human? 7 / 31 1. What is the Soul? 8 / 31 Recap: Aristotle's Four Causes 9 / 31 Recap: Natural Things nature: natural things: 10 / 31 Recap: Natural Things nature: \a type of principle and cause of motion and stability within those things to which it primarily belongs in their own right and not coincidentally" (Physics II.1, 192b, 23-24) natural things: matter-form compounds (Physics II.2, 194a, 15) 11 / 31 living beings 12 / 31 This is a striking idea! the matter of anger is \a boiling of the blood and of the hot [element] around the heart". (De Anima I.3, 403b) 13 / 31 Souls as the Forms of Living Beings I I I 14 / 31 Souls as the Forms of Living Beings I what the living being is for I its nature, an inner principle of change and rest I the essence of a living being 15 / 31 potentiality and actuality \We say, then, that one kind of being is substance. One sort of substance is matter, which is not a this in its own right; and another sort is shape or form, which makes [matter] a this; and the third sort is the compound of matter and form. Matter is potentiality, and form is actuality; actuality is either for instance [the state of] knowing or [the activity of] attending [to what one knows]." (De Anima II.1, 412a) 16 / 31 example: pencil sharpener 1st potentiality: 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: 2nd actuality: 17 / 31 example: pencil sharpener 1st potentiality: metal 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: the capacity to sharpen pencils 2nd actuality: sharpening pencils 18 / 31 example: eye 1st potentiality: 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: 2nd actuality: 19 / 31 example: eye 1st potentiality: the eyeball 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: sight 2nd actuality: seeing 20 / 31 example: piglet 1st potentiality: 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: 2nd actuality: 21 / 31 example: piglet 1st potentiality: the piglet's body 2nd potentiality/1st actuality: its soul; the capacity to lead a piggy life 2nd actuality: living/doing piggy things 22 / 31 The soul can't be separated from the Body. Diana Al-Hadid, In Mortal Repose 23 / 31 The body can't be separated from the soul. \if an eye loses its ability to see, it is no longer an eye, except homonymously". (De Anima I.1, 412b, 22-23) 24 / 31 2. What makes us Human? 25 / 31 Parts of the Soul (De Anima II.4) source: wikipedia 26 / 31 27 / 31 understanding The intellect \has no nature except this|that it is potential. [...T]he intellectual soul [...] is potentially the forms. [...T]he intellect becomes each thing [that it understands]". (De Anima III.4) 28 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? 29 / 31 Why Study Philosophy? I A thing's nature is what it is for. I Human nature includes the capacity to understand. I A full human life includes understanding. I Philosophy studies the ultimate nature of reality, and therefore gives you the highest form of understanding. 30 / 31 Take-Home Lessons Aristotle thinks that... 1. Living beings are matter-form compounds. Your body is your matter and your soul is your form. 2. Your body is your first potentiality, your soul is your second potentiality and your first actuality and living is your second actuality. 3. The soul has various parts, where possession of an understanding part is distinctive of humans. 4. Since the capacity to understand is what makes us human, doing some philosophy is required for leading a full human life. 31 / 31.