Explanation And Teleology In Aristotle's Science Of Nature

This page intentionally left blank EXPLANATION AND TELEOLOGY IN ARISTOTLE’S SCIENCE OF NATURE In Aristotle’s teleological view of the world, natural things come to be and are present for the sake of some function or end (for example, wings are present in birds for the sake of flying). Whereas much recent scholarship has focused on uncovering the (meta-)physical underpinnings of Aristotle’s teleology and its contrasts with his notions of chance and necessity, this book examines Aristotle’s use of the theory of natural teleology in producing explanations of natural phenomena. Close analyses of Aristotle’s natural treatises and his Posterior Analytics show what methods are used for the discovery of functions or ends that figure in teleological explanations, how these explanations are structured, and how well they work in making sense of phenomena. The book will be valuable for all those who are interested in Aristotle’s natural science, his philosophy of science, and his biology. m a r i s k a l e u n i s s e n is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis. EXPLANATION AND TELEOLOGY IN ARISTOTLE’S SCIENCE OF NATURE MARISKA LEUNISSEN Washington University in St. Louis CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521197748 © Mariska Leunissen 2010 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published in print format 2010 ISBN-13 978-0-511-90200-0 eBook (NetLibrary) ISBN-13 978-0-521-19774-8 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. For Jeff Contents List of figure and tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations page ix x xii 1 Introduction 1 Aristotle’s defense of natural teleology: setting the stage for teleological explanations in the Physica 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Introduction Preliminary remarks on final causes in art and nature Aristotle’s first argument in defense of natural teleology The nature and scope of natural teleology Conclusion 2 Aristotle’s bio-functional account of the soul: establishing the starting points of teleological explanation in the De Anima 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Introduction Teleology in the analysis of the nature of the soul Teleology in the analysis of the capacities of the soul Conclusion 3 Introducing biology as a demonstrative science: the theory of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium I 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Introduction Biology as a demonstrative science Primary and secondary teleology “Necessity is spoken of in many ways” Conclusion 4 Explaining parts of animals: the practice of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium II–IV 4.0 Introduction vii 10 10 11 22 32 47 49 49 50 57 74 76 76 77 81 99 110 112 112 Contents viii 4.1 The organization and heuristic methods of De Partibus Animalium books II–IV 4.2 Aristotle’s use of teleological principles as heuristic tools 4.3 Explanations in biology: references to form, matter, and function 4.4 Conclusion 5 Making sense of the heavens: the limits of teleological