Cosmic Orientation in Aristotle’s De Caelo

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Language

eng

Format of Original

27 p.

Publication Date

2010

Publisher

Brill

Source Publication

Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy

Source ISSN

9789004207080

Abstract

This paper examines how within De Caelo Aristotle argues that the heavens rotate to the right, because this is best. I isolate and evaluate its presuppositions and show how it comprises both a dialectical argument to cosmological principles and a partial demonstrative explanation on the basis of such principles. Second, I consider the expressions of epistemological hesitation that Aristotle offers in regard to this (and similar) arguments, and draw conclusions concerning the status of cosmology as an Aristotelian science. In order to "save the phenomena," to allow the endoxon that the heavens are alive and divine to stand, Aristotle needs to make the point that the world and its doings, including all of our human doings, depend on an actuality that is in some sense better than the occasional, incomplete activities in which we engage.

Comments

Published as part of the proceedings of the conference, Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy, 2010: 91-117. Publisher link.

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