Aristotle on Perception - Brossura

Everson, Stephen

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0198238630 ISBN 13: 9780198238638

Casa editrice: Clarendon Press, 1999

Riassunto

Stephen Everson presents a comprehensive new study of Aristotle's account of perception and related mental capacities. Recent debate about Aristotle's theory of mind has focused on this account, which is Aristotle's most sustained and detailed attempt to describe and explain the behaviour of living things. Everson places it in the context of Aristotle's natural science as a whole, showing how he applies the explanatory tools developed in other works to the study of perceptual cognition. Everson demonstrates that, contrary to the claims of many recent scholars, Aristotle is indeed concerned to explain perceptual activity as the activity of a living body, in terms of material changes in the organs which possess the various perceptual capacities. By emphasizing the unified nature of the perceptual system, Everson is able to explain how Aristotle accounts for our ability to perceive not only such things as colours and sounds but material objects in our environment.

This rich and broad-ranging book will be essential reading not only for students of Aristotle's theory of mind but for all those concerned to understand the explanatory principles of his natural science.

'No part of Aristotle's psychological theory has been of greater interest to scholars over the past few years than his account of perception. . . . this excellent book . . . will appeal to Aristotelian scholars and philosophers of mind alike . . . Everson manifests a thorough understanding of much of the literature on Aristotle's psychological theory and displays a talent for offering sophisticated arguments that are informed by the conceptual possibilities demarcated in both ancient and modern philosophy . . . Everson has presented a rich and insightful critique of a thesis which has had significant impact upon contemporary discussions of Aristotle's psychological theory. Further, in offering ths critique, he has avoided many of the snares and entanglements to which others have fallen prey.' John E. Sisko, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy

Su questo libro

Recensione:

His treatment of perception as one case of Aristotle's general explanation of natural change, including mental changes, is a very fruitful one. (Richard Wallace, Greece and Rome)

although it is a tough read, it is rich and rewarding. (Robin Waterfield, Heythrop Journal)

E's discussion is philosophically refined: and his reader is expected to have a nodding acquantaince with various notions in contemporary philosophical psychology ... The book is good enough to deserve detailed criticism. Indeed, I am not sure that I have read a better book on Aristotle's psychology. I enjoyed it, and I learned from it. It is rare that such things can be said about a book on ancient philosophy. (Jonathan Barnes, The Classical Review)

Spiritualists and materialists alike will learn from reading this book. (Allan Siverman, Ancient Philosophy 19, 1999)

L'autore:

Stephen Everson is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He taught philosophy previously at Oxford (St Hugh's, Balliol, and Lincoln Colleges) and at Cambridge (Trinity College). He is the editor of three Companions to Ancient Thought, published by Cambridge University Press: Epistemology (1990),Psychology (1991), andLanguage (1994).

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Clarendon Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0198238630
• ISBN 13: 9780198238638
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 324