The role of the female principle in Aristotle's de Generatione Animalium
This thesis examines Aristotle's account of the female role in reproduction in his <I>de Generatione Animalium</I> (<I>GA</I>). Aristotle says that the female contributes matter, while the male contributes form and movement to the offspring. In the beginning of the five book treatise, Aristotle concentrates on the role of the male parent and emphasises the importance of form by using numerous comparisons with production in crafts. The male contributes like the carpenter who imposes his idea into inert and passive matter. By reading only Books One and Two, many get the impression that the female contribution is passive, inert and contributes nothing to the type of animal that is to be produced. I argue that this misrepresents Aristotle's theory of generation. Only by reading the treatise in its entirety does the reader understand that matter in animal generation is different from the matter used in crafts. The female matter is poised to become the type of animal it will be because it contributes specific movements and potentialities. The mother's soul has worked up the material to be the type of matter needed for her own life or that of her offspring. My thesis maintains that Aristotle never meant to indicate
Elliott, S. M.
The role of the female principle in Aristotle's de Generatione Animalium. This thesis examines Aristotle's account of the female role in reproduction in his <I>de Generatione Animalium</I> (<I>GA</I>). Aristotle says that the female contributes matter, while the male contributes form and movement to the offspring. In the beginning of the five book treatise, Aristotle concentrates on the role of the male parent and emphasises the importance of form by using numerous comparisons with production in crafts. The male contributes like the carpenter who imposes his idea into inert and passive matter. By reading only Books One and Two, many get the impression that the female contribution is passive, inert and contributes nothing to the type of animal that is to be produced. I argue that this misrepresents Aristotle's theory of generation. Only by reading the treatise in its entirety does the reader understand that matter in animal generation is different from the matter used in crafts. The female matter is poised to become the type of animal it will be because it contributes specific movements and potentialities. The mother's soul has worked up the material to be the type of matter needed for her own life or that of her offspring. My thesis maintains that Aristotle never meant to indicate
role female principle aristotle examine aristotle_account female role reproduction aristotle say female contributes matter male contributes form movement offspring begin book treatise aristotle concentrate role male parent emphasise_importance form use numerous comparison production craft male contributes like imposes idea inert passive matter read books many get impression female passive inert contributes nothing type animal produce argue aristotle_theory generation read treatise entirety reader matter animal generation different matter use craft female matter become type animal contributes specific movement potentiality mother soul work material type matter need life offspring maintains aristotle never mean indicate