Peitho. Examina Antiqua
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Psyche as the Principle and Cause of Life in Aristotle
No full textBiology is the most extensive field in the Corpus Aristotelicum. In his fundamental work De anima, Aristotle tries to fix the borders of this life science. The term ψυχή has a twofold explanatory status. On the one hand, ψυχή is understood as a principle of all living beings. On the other hand, it is understood as a cause of the fact that all living beings are alive. The paper is divided into three sections. (1) The first part shows why Aristotle discusses these issues in a work entitled Περὶ ψυχῆς. Since Pythagoras and Heraclitus, ψυχή was understood as a life principle: Pythagoras believed that men, animals and plants share the same nature: they are all ἔμψυχα and they are homogenous qua ψυχή. (2) The second part of this article deals with Aristotle’s definition of the soul in DA II: ψυχή is the principle of all living things. This establishes (i) the external criteria to divide living and non-living beings and (ii) the internal criteria to divide living beings. (3) The third part of this paper is concerned with the methodological consequences of this definition: the life functions (δυνάμεις τῆς ψυχῆς) are the central explanandum in Aristotle’s biology. De anima II defines such various life-functions as nourishment, senseperception and locomotion. These capacities contour the main fields of the philosopher’s biological investigation. For Aristotle, the faculty of reproduction is a subtype of nourishment. Reproduction is the most important and most natural function of all living beings. Genetics is, therefore, the most important field in Aristotle’s biology.Biology is the most extensive field in the Corpus Aristotelicum. In his fundamental work De anima, Aristotle tries to fix the borders of this life science. The term ψυχή has a twofold explanatory status. On the one hand, ψυχή is understood as a principle of all living beings. On the other hand, it is understood as a cause of the fact that all living beings are alive. The paper is divided into three sections. (1) The first part shows why Aristotle discusses these issues in a work entitled Περὶ ψυχῆς. Since Pythagoras and Heraclitus, ψυχή was understood as a life principle: Pythagoras believed that men, animals and plants share the same nature: they are all ἔμψυχα and they are homogenous qua ψυχή. (2) The second part of this article deals with Aristotle’s definition of the soul in DA II: ψυχή is the principle of all living things. This establishes (i) the external criteria to divide living and non-living beings and (ii) the internal criteria to divide living beings. (3) The third part of this paper is concerned with the methodological consequences of this definition: the life functions (δυνάμεις τῆς ψυχῆς) are the central explanandum in Aristotle’s biology. De anima II defines such various life-functions as nourishment, sense-perception and locomotion. These capacities contour the main fields of the philosopher’s biological investigation. For Aristotle, the faculty of reproduction is a subtype of nourishment. Reproduction is the most important and most natural function of all living beings. Genetics is, therefore, the most important field in Aristotle’s biology
Aristotle’s Lost Work On Philosophy
No full textThis article offers a Polish translation of Aristotle’s treatise, On Philosophy, of which only certain fragments and testimonies have been preserved. The translation is supplied with an introduction presenting the history of various interpretations and reconstructions of Aristotle’s work.This article offers a Polish translation of Aristotle’s treatise, On Philoso‑ phy, of which only certain fragments and testimonies have been preserved. The translation is supplied with an introduction presenting the history of various interpretations and reconstructions of Aristotle’s work
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Get PDFDorota Zygmuntowicz, Praktyka polityczna. Od Państwa do Praw Platona,Toruń 2011, ss. 643
Defiance, Persuasion or Conformity? The Argument in Plato’s Apology and Crito
Get PDFThe present paper attempts to throw some light on the conundrum of Socrates’ political views in the Apology and Crito. The problem resides in that the Socrates of the Apology evidently undermines the authority of Athenian democracy, whereas the Socrates of the Crito argues that his escape from prison would be tantamount to disrespecting the state, which would in turn threaten the prosperity of the entire πόλις. The article suggests that in the two dialogues, the young Plato examines the possibility of steering a middle course between embracing relativism, on the one hand, and encouraging civil disobedience, on the other. Thus, the philosopher focuses primarily on investigating the two options, without either totally subordinating the citizen to the state, or unreflexively accepting any crude pragmatism
Ethical Dimension of Time in Plato’s Apology of Socrates
Get PDFThe aim of the present article is to analyse the Apology in its aspect of time. When defending himself against the charges, Socrates appeals to the past, the present and the future. Furthermore, the philosopher stresses the meaning of the duration of time. Thus, the seems to suggest that all really important activities demand a long time to benefit, since they are almost invariably connected with greater efforts. While the dialogue proves thereby to be an ethical one, the various time expressions also gain an ethical dimension
Plato’s Crito on Civil Disobedience and Political Obligations
No full textThe present paper focuses on the complex relation between ethics andpolitics in Plato’s Crito. While the issue is presented from a contemporaryperspective, the problems of civil disobedience and politicalobligation are the present study’s primarily concern. The issue of civildisobedience concerns moral reasons for breaking the law, whereasthe concept of political obligation refers to a moral duty to obey the law.When disagreeing with the view that Socrates in the dialogue arguesfor an unconditional obedience to the state, the article builds on theApology. Subsequently, the similarities between the position of Socratesand that of H.D. Thoreau are investigated. Finally, the paper discussesthe concept of political obligation so as to show that the argumentin the Crito anticipates several modern theories. The modern controversiesthat this article covers are shown to play an important role in Plato’sdialogue, as they are the basis of Socrates’ political obligation.The present paper focuses on the complex relation between ethics and politics in Plato’s Crito. While the issue is presented from a contemporary perspective, the problems of civil disobedience and political obligation are the present study’s primarily concern. The issue of civil disobedience concerns moral reasons for breaking the law, whereas the concept of political obligation refers to a moral duty to obey the law. When disagreeing with the view that Socrates in the dialogue argues for an unconditional obedience to the state, the article builds on the Apology. Subsequently, the similarities between the position of Socrates and that of H.D. Thoreau are investigated. Finally, the paper discusses the concept of political obligation so as to show that the argument in the Crito anticipates several modern theories. The modern controversies that this article covers are shown to play an important role in Plato’s dialogue, as they are the basis of Socrates’ political obligation
Socrates’ Accusers
No full textWe have unfortunately very little information on the three accusers ofSocrates: Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. Notwithstanding this, the presentpaper attempts to discuss the circumstances and motives that led toSocrates’ trial. Furthermore, the article deals with Socrates’ crucial standafter the verdict and considers the philosopher’s arguments as these havebeen presented in the first tetralogy.We have unfortunately very little information on the three accusers of Socrates: Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. Notwithstanding this, the present paper attempts to discuss the circumstances and motives that led to Socrates’ trial. Furthermore, the article deals with Socrates’ crucial stand after the verdict and considers the philosopher’s arguments as these have been presented in the first tetralogy
Socrates’ Philosophy as a Divine Service in Plato’s Apology
Get PDFThe aim of the present paper is to discuss Socrates’ idea of philosophy asa service to the god. First the article investigates why Chaerephon wentto Delphi and why he asked Pythia the famous question concerningSocrates. The investigation provides a basis for distinguishing two majorperiods in his activity. The one preceding the Delphic oracle consists inconducting inquiries in a group of closest friends. The one following theDelphic oracle consist in addressing a much larger audience. An analysisof both periods suggests that the oracle from Delphi greatly affectedSocrates’ relations with other Athenians. While the present article dealsalso with the issue of Socrates’ daimonion, it hypothesizes that the voiceof daimonion and the voice of Pythia could be regarded as Apollo’sinterventions
Charisteria Livio Rossetti Oblata
Get PDFIl quinto secolo. Studi di filosofia antica in onore di Livio Rossetti. A cura di S. Giombini e F. Marcacci, Perugia 2010, ss. 752.Il quinto secolo. Studi di filosofia antica in onore di Livio Rossetti. A cura di S. Giombinie F. Marcacci, Perugia 2010, ss. 752
Zdekonstruować Metafizykę Arystotelesa
Get PDFJan Bigaj, Zrozumieć metafizykę. Tom I: Rozszyfrowanie dzieła zwanego ‘Metafizyką’ Arystotelesa, Część 1: Bibliofilska kompilacja i jej skutki, Toruń 2004 (ss. 339); Część 2: Elementy składowe i ich pochodzenie. Księgi centralne, Toruń 2005 (ss. 516).Jan Bigaj, Zrozumieć metafizykę. Tom I: Rozszyfrowanie dzieła zwanego ‘Metafizyką’Arystotelesa, Część 1: Bibliofilska kompilacja i jej skutki, Toruń 2004 (ss. 339);Część 2: Elementy składowe i ich pochodzenie. Księgi centralne, Toruń 2005 (ss. 516).MARIA