The Mind of Aristotle: A Study in Philosophical Growth

by John M. Rist

Overview

Until the nineteenth century it was common to assume that philosophers said more or less the same things throughout their lives. Such an attitude led their successors to turn their thoughts into harmonious systems which, though often of great philosophical interest, failed to reflect the detailed richness of a philosopher’s thought at any specific period in his life. In more recent times the study of a philosopher’s growth has often provided a greater understanding of what puzzled him, what problems he was trying to solve, and why he attempted to solve them the way he did.

For Aristotle such an approach has led to many advances in our knowledge, but conflicting ‘readings’ have led to confusion and a tendency to revert to more systematic treatments. In an effort to confront this situation John Rist attempts to chart Aristotle’s philosophical progress, using the techniques of both philology and philosophical analysis. His aim is to see where Aristotle came from philosophically and what impelled him to develop his ideas in particular directions.

The first chapter is an overall account of Aristotle’s philosophical activities as his life progressed; the remaining sections discuss in detail the development of such key themes as the possibility of metaphysics, activity and potentiality, categories, mind, substance, God, human nature and happiness, and the nature of society, including the proper role for women and the phenomenon of slavery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781487585143
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	12/15/1989
Series:	Heritage
Pages:	380
Sales rank:	843,512
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

JOHN M. RIST was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University, and is now Assistant Professor of Greek at University College, University of Toronto.