Seminar on
Aristotle’s Philosophy of Science
To what extent does the scientific method outlined in the Organon conform to
Aristotle’s scientific practice as developed in such works as the Physics, On the Heavens, On Generation
and Corruption, Meteorology, On Psyche (including the minor treatises
on physiological and cognitive science), On
Animals, Ethics, Politics, Rhetoric, and Poetics? In
order to approach this question, I will introduce the Organon during the first
three weeks of the seminar. We will discuss the doctrines therein on the basis
of selections from the Analytics and
the Topics. The rest of the participants
will choose a specific subject from some other work that relates to their
research interests (including ethical and political subjects), and select about
15 Bekker pages on the subject in consultation with me to be read by the class;
they will then lead the seminar in a discussion of their selection, addressing
the relationship between their subject and the doctrines of the Organon. The
goal of the seminar is to review Aristotle's logic and method, exercise the
ability to read and criticize diverse parts of his corpus, and develop other
research interests by relating them to his thought.
Text
The Complete Works of Aristotle. 2
vols. Edited by J. Barnes.
Evaluation
Participants will develop their presentation into a 10-15 page paper, due at
the final meeting.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to Aristotle’s system of reasoning. Outline of the Organon.
Substances, attributes, propositions, problems, and syllogisms.
Reading: Categories (esp. 1-10), On Interpretation (esp. 1), and Prior Analytics (esp. i 1-3, 27-31 and ii 23-27).
2. Scientific reasoning. The nature of scientific knowledge
and proofs, the role of axioms, definitions, and hypotheses, causal
explanation, the unity of science and sub-alternate sciences.
Reading: Posterior Analytics (esp. i 1-3, 6-9, 12-14, 27-33 and ii 1-11, 19).
3. Disputative reasoning. Dialectical propositions and
problems, accidents, kinds, properties, and definitions.
Reading: Topics (esp. i 1-12, iv
1-3, v 1-3, vi 1-3).
4-10. Student presentations. Two per session; readings to be announced.
Possible topics include: cosmology, theory of elements and composition, theory
of living things, psychology, anthropology, ethics, politics, and aesthetics.