Aristotle’s Causal Definitions of the Soul

Ancient Philosophy 44 (2):449-467 (2024)
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Abstract

Does Aristotle offer a definition of the soul? In fact, he rejects the possibility of defining the soul univocally. Because “life” is a homonymous concept, so too is “soul”. Given the specific causal role that Aristotle envisages for form and essence, the soul requires multiple different definitions to capture how it functions as a cause in each form of life. Aristotle suggests demonstrations can be given which express these causal definitions; I reconstruct these demonstrations.

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Cameron F. Coates
Sewanee, The University of the South

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