Alexander of Aphrodisias: On the Soul: Part I: Soul as Form of the Body, Parts of the Soul, Nourishment, and Perception

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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.

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[Castons] interpretative notes are consistently relevant and useful, providing welcome elaborations and expansions of Alexanders often very compressed arguments. He also does an excellent job of identifying Alexanders 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 *

Author Bio

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