Focusing primarily on Aristotle's Physics Alpha, an attempt is made to establish the structure and significance of the Aristotelian analogy. Traditionally, the concept of analogy in Aristotle has been treated along two lines of interpretation. In this book, these are referred to as the mathematical interpretation and the correlative interpretation. The mathematical approach claims that the Aristotelian analogy only accounts for proportional comparisons between usually four things. On the other hand, the correlative interpretation describes the Aristotelian analogy as something that unites the multiple uses of a single term (the many uses of "healthy," for example). This book will argue that both of these interpretations overlook the nature of the Aristotelian analogy. The structure of analogy can be taken from Aristotle's discussion of the three principles of natural "becoming" in his Physics Alpha. In Physics Alpha, Aristotle claims that these three principles are: 1) the being in its addressable form (logos); 2) the course of becoming of that addressable being (steresis); 3) the substance that remains the same throughout the change (hypokeimenon). Although the first principle, logos, accounts for addressability, the other two do not. The second and third principles are inseparable from logos but always remain hidden from addressability (ana-logos). This book will argue that these principles reveal a structure of analogy that discloses an inherent mobility of logos which enables it to reflect the intuitive and ever-changing principles of becoming. As such, the relationship between Logos and intuition (nous) can be reimagined.
Introduction Course of this Study Genesis and Analogy Comparability and Underlying Nature Chapter One: Locating the Structure of Analogy in Aristotle's Thought Two Determinant Points of Reference for the Study of Analogy in Aristotle's Thought: Gamma 2 and Lambda 4 Aristotle's "Common Nature" as the Ground of Analogy in Aquinas Aquinas on Analogical Names Aquinas on the Analogy of Being Concluding Comments on Aquinas on Analogy Aristotle's "Common Nature" as the Ground of the Abuse of Analogy Owen on Focal Meaning Aubenque on the "Origin of the Doctrine of the Analogy of Being" What Heidegger Adds to the Locating of Analogy in Aristotle Problems with the Two Interpretations of Analogy in Aristotle Chapter Two: Speaking By Nature Aristotle's Way as an Analogical Movement of Discovery Physics Alpha, 1 Three Conditions Nous for the Structure of Analogy The Co-operation of Nous and Aisthesis Nous and its Expression through Logos Nous and the Apprehending of First Principles A Few More Words on Nous and the Return to the Analogical Movement of Discovery Physics Alpha, 2 Concluding Remarks on the Analogical Movement of Discovery Chapter Three: On the Primary Role of Steresis Unification and Uniqueness as the Guiding Significance of Steresis Reading the Definitions of Steresis from Metaphysics Delta, 22 A Few More Words Regarding the Articulation of Steresis Physics Alpha, 3, 4 and 5 Concluding Remarks on Qualified Non-Being Chapter Four: On the Analogical Preservation of the Ambiguity of Being Physics Alpha, 6 Logos as Radical Analogy Concluding Remarks on Logos as Radical Analogy Bibliography
