Event Detail
Wed Dec 7, 2016 4–6 PM |
Graduate Research Colloquium Justin Vlasits Aristotle on the Hunt for Essence |
Abstract: Aristotle afforded a crucial role to essence in his philosophy of science, placing them among the first principles of demonstration. But how should an inquirer discover essences? In this talk, I will give an interpretation of Posterior Analytics II.13, the only chapter in the Analytics that expressly addresses the question, and argue that Aristotle endorses Plato’s method of division as a crucial part of the correct methodology.