Cart
Free Shipping in Australia
Proud to be B-Corp

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul Victor Caston (Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan)

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul By Victor Caston (Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan)

Summary

This is Part I of the first English translation of the philosopher Alexander of Aphrodisias' treatise On the Soul, the latest volume in this highly regarded series, The Ancient Commentators on Aristotle.

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul Summary

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul: Part I: Soul as Form of the Body, Parts of the Soul, Nourishment, and Perception by Victor Caston (Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan)

Around 200 AD, the greatest defender and interpreter of Aristotle within his school, Alexander of Aphrodisias, composed his own book On the Soul, partly following the pattern of Aristotle's. In the first half, translated in this volume, he discusses the soul as the form of the body, and the idea of parts or powers that constitute the soul of living things, including the two lowest powers: nutrition and perception. In the second half, translated in Part II, he discusses perception, representation, desire, understanding and - a notion emphasised by the Stoics - the governing part of the soul. He takes the soul to consist of these powers, which supervene on the mixture of the body's elemental ingredients, just as inanimate powers like buoyancy or lightness can supervene on other qualities. They are new, emergent causal powers of the living thing, which do not belong to the constituent ingredients of the body in themselves. Through his notion of emergence, he seeks to steer between the Platonic dualism of soul and body and the extreme materialism of his Stoic rivals. This volume contains the first English translation of the work, as well as a detailed introduction, extensive explanatory notes and a bibliography.

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul Reviews

[Caston's] interpretative notes are consistently relevant and useful, providing welcome elaborations and expansions of Alexander's often very compressed arguments. He also does an excellent job of identifying Alexander's interlocutors, including Stoics and Platonists as well as fellow Aristotelians . . . This edition of one of the most important discussions of the soul from late antiquity offers an excellent translation, a clear introduction, and notes providing detailed interpretations and cross-references. The volume upholds the high standards of the Ancient Commentators on Aristotle project and should be of interest to all ancient and medieval scholars working on philosophy of mind. -- Caleb Cohoe, Metropolitan State University of Denver * Journal of the History of Philosophy *

About Victor Caston (Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan)

Victor Caston is Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Textual Emendations TRANSLATION Notes Bibliography English-Greek Glossary Greek-English Index Index of Passages Cited Subject Index

Additional information

NLS9781472557988
9781472557988
1472557980
Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul: Part I: Soul as Form of the Body, Parts of the Soul, Nourishment, and Perception by Victor Caston (Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies, University of Michigan)
New
Paperback
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
2014-04-10
256
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a new book - be the first to read this copy. With untouched pages and a perfect binding, your brand new copy is ready to be opened for the first time

Customer Reviews - Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul