Capacity and Potentiality: Aristotle's Metaphysics Θ.6–7 from the Perspective of the De Anima
Topoi 31 (2):209-220 (2012)
| Abstract | The notion of a capacity ( dunamis ) in the sense of a power to bring about or undergo change plays a key role in Aristotle’s theories about the natural world. However, in Metaphysics Θ Aristotle also extends ‘capacity’, and the corresponding concept of ‘activity’ ( energeia ), to cases where we want to say that something is in capacity, or in activity, such and such but not, or not directly, in virtue of being capable of initiating or undergoing change. This paper seeks to clarify and confirm a certain view of how Aristotle wishes us to see the relationship between the two uses of ‘capacity’ and ‘activity’. To that end, I consider also Aristotle’s employment of the terms in the De Anima , which sheds light on the key examples which direct the discussion in Metaph. Θ. | |||||||||
| Keywords | Capacity (dunamis) Activity (energeia) Fulfilment (entelekheia) Change Body-soul relationship Instrument Teleology | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,709 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesAndreas Anagnostopoulos (2011). Senses of Dunamis and the Structure of Aristotle's Metaphysics Θ1. Phronesis 56 (4):388-425.
Piotr Makowski (2009). Metaphysics of Practical Philosophy. The Concept of Capacity in Aristotle. In Georg Arabatzis (ed.), Studies on Supernaturalism. Logos Verlag.
Piotr Makowski (2012). Dynamis. Metafizyczne pojęcie możności i jego rola w filozofii praktycznej Arystotelesa. Diametros 33:76-100.
Mary Louise Gill (2004). Part I: Analysis of Dynamic Categories: Aristotle's Distinction Between Change and Activity. Axiomathes 14 (1-3):3-22.
Jonathan B. Beere (2009). Doing and Being: An Interpretation of Aristotle's Metaphysics Theta. Oxford University Press.
Matthew Boyle (2011). 'Making Up Your Mind' and the Activity of Reason. Philosophers' Imprint 11 (17).
Pavel Gregorić & Filip Grgić (2006). Aristotle's Notion of Experience. Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie 88 (1):1-30.
Charlotte Witt (2003). Ways of Being: Potentiality and Actuality in Aristotle's Metaphysics. Cornell University Press.
John Bowin (2012). Aristotle on 'First Transitions' in De Anima II 5. Apeiron 45 (3):262-282.
Nicholas Denyer (2000). Aristotle on Modality, II. Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 74 (1):163–178.
Stephen Makin (2000). Aristotle on Modality, I. Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 74 (1):143–161.
Francisco J. Gonzalez (2006). Whose Metaphysics of Presence? Heidegger's Interpretation ofEnergeiaandDunamisin Aristotle. Southern Journal of Philosophy 44 (4):533-568.
Stephen Makin (2000). Aristotle on Modality: Stephen Makin. Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume 74 (1):143-161.
Abraham P. Bos (2010). The Soul's Instrument for Touching in Aristotle, on the Soul II 11, 422b34–423a21. Archiv für Geschichte Der Philosophie 92 (1):89-102.
John Bowin (2011). Aristotle on Various Types of Alteration in De Anima II 5. Phronesis 56 (2):138-161.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2011-12-10Total downloads41 ( #27,954 of 549,694 )Recent downloads (6 months)7 ( #10,483 of 549,694 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
