Aristotle and the Animals: The Logos of Life Itself

This book explores Aristotle's zoology,which looks at animals as creatures of nature (physis) and reveals a scientific discourse that empowers them to sense the world and live. It discusses his ad hoc methodology to study them, the pertinence of the soul to such a study, and the rise of zoology as a branch of natural philosophy. It also emphasizes that lack of human reason is irrelevant to understanding the richness of animal life and cognition.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This study takes a fresh approach to Aristotle's zoology, viewing animals as natural beings (physis) and unveiling a scientific discourse that, in response to his predecessors, exiles logos as reason and pursues the logos inherent in animals' bodies, empowering them to sense the world and live. The volume delves into Aristotle's conception of animals by examining his ad hoc methodology for studying them, including the relevance of the soul to such an inquiry, and the emergence of zoology as a branch of natural philosophy. For Aristotle, animal life originates from the body in the realm of existence and revolves around sensation, which is intertwined with pleasure, pain, and desire. The absence of human reason is irrelevant to understanding the richness of animal life and cognition. In essence, this book provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the animal as such, which lay at the core of Aristotle's agenda and necessitated a separate study, distinct from plants and the elements.

This book is designed for students of the history of science, ancient biology, and philosophy, as well as anyone with an interest in animal studies and the human-animal relationship from various fields.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367409494