Nature and essence in Aristotle's logical and biological works
Aristotle holds that source of the predicates that are true of a subject, dignify what the subject is. The definition that states what a subject is, is composed out of such predicates, and signifies the essence or nature of a subject. I examine the ground for distinguishing these predicates in Aristotleâs works and I focus on the case of living kinds. In the first part I consider Aristotleâs logical works, where the distinction rests in priority relations that relate to explanatory considerations. Given the subjects of a domain or genus studied by a science, the predicates that are explanatorily more basic form the essences of these subjects. The aim of scientific understanding is to study the explanatory patterns within a genus; patterns that will be different in different sciences. In the case of the subject-genus of biology the relevant patterns are determined by teleological considerations. In the second part, I consider Aristotleâs views on teleological explanation in biology, and in particular what forms the basis of these explanations, thus determining the order of priorities with respect to the mixture or essence of the subjects studied in biology.
Stavrianeas, Stasinos V.
Nature and essence in Aristotle's logical and biological works. Aristotle holds that source of the predicates that are true of a subject, dignify what the subject is. The definition that states what a subject is, is composed out of such predicates, and signifies the essence or nature of a subject. I examine the ground for distinguishing these predicates in Aristotleâs works and I focus on the case of living kinds. In the first part I consider Aristotleâs logical works, where the distinction rests in priority relations that relate to explanatory considerations. Given the subjects of a domain or genus studied by a science, the predicates that are explanatorily more basic form the essences of these subjects. The aim of scientific understanding is to study the explanatory patterns within a genus; patterns that will be different in different sciences. In the case of the subject-genus of biology the relevant patterns are determined by teleological considerations. In the second part, I consider Aristotleâs views on teleological explanation in biology, and in particular what forms the basis of these explanations, thus determining the order of priorities with respect to the mixture or essence of the subjects studied in biology.
nature essence aristotle logical biological work aristotle hold source predicate true subject subject definition state subject composed predicate signifies essence nature subject examine ground distinguish predicate aristotle work focus case live kind first_part consider aristotle logical work distinction rest priority relation relate explanatory consideration given subject domain genus study science predicate basic form essence subject aim scientific study explanatory pattern within genus patterns different different science case subject genus biology relevant pattern determine teleological consideration second_part consider aristotle_view teleological explanation biology particular form_basis explanation thus determine order priority respect mixture essence subject study biology