In metaphysics 1, aristotle says that all men suppose what is called wisdom sophia to deal with the first causes aitia and the principles archai of things 981b28, and it is these causes and principles that he proposes to study in this work. Referring back to his logical work in the categories, aristotle opens book zeta by asserting that substance is the primary category of being. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. The structure and subject of metaphysics alpha by helen lang. It is difficult and obscure, and it has generated a vast amount of literature. Book zeta begins with the remark that being has many senses. Book vii part 1 there are several senses in which a thing may be said to be, as we pointed out previously in our book on the various senses of words. In this video, professor thorsby gives a close reading of aristotles metaphysics book vii. Book i 1 when the objects of an inquiry, in any department, have principles, conditions, or. Aristotles metaphysics zeta contains his considered views on primary substances. Page after page of intricate argument sat waiting to be unraveled and in the unraveling seemed to lie the promise of enlightenment. Dahl expertly leads the reader through the intricacies of zeta s arguments, chapter by chapter, making clear its difficulties and revealing how a coherent interpretation of the book can be seen to emerge. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Burnyeat basically guides the reader through the structure of book z in order to make the content more understandable. Metaphysics aristotle wikipedia republished wiki 2. Metaphysics book zeta is widely regarded as the text in which aristotle presents his fully developed theory of substancehis account of the basic entities on which the reality of things in the sublunary world must be based. Norman dahl offers a thorough, detailed and sophisticated analysis of book 7 zeta, as its commonly known of aristotle s metaphysics, a book of the metaphysics universally recognized to be both central to its project and difficult to understand. In may ways this is due to the layout and structure of the work as we have inherited itnamely, as a nonlinear book.
They will be treated only very sketchily in this outline. Like coleridges wedding guest, i was stopped in my tracks. Lewis presents a closely argued exposition of metaphysics zeta one of aristotles most dense and controversial texts. What substances are there, and are there any substances besides perceptible ones. Great guide to zeta and eta especially context for zeta 7 9. Aristotle has an argument independent of those books, which he makes in book 8 of the physics and uses again in book 12 of the metaphysics that there must be an immortal, unchanging being, ultimately responsible for all wholeness and orderliness in the sensible world. How aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta the philosophical. Though all fourteen books treat certain common themes, many of them are. The internet classics archive metaphysics by aristotle. Here is william moerbekes latin translation of book vii zeta of aristotles metaphysics. The primary kind of being is what aristotle calls substance. Whether you are considering reeves text for teaching, research, or both, youll be interested in his treatment of metaphysics book zeta, aristotles discussion of substance. Ross book vii part 1 there are several senses in which a thing may be said to be, as we pointed out previously in our book on the various senses of words. Instead of considering what being is, we can consider what substance is.
Norman o dahl this book argues that according to metaphysics zeta, substantial forms constitute substantial being in the sensible world, and individual composites make up the basic constituents that possess this. How aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta oxford scholarship. He does a fine job of setting the arguments in a proper context. The books, in order, are alpha, alpha the lesser, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota, kappa, lambda, mu, and nu. Ens dicitur multipliciterthe word being is meant in many ways metaphysics is one of the principal works of aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. In a difficult but fascinating passage in metaphysics z.
Only the composite is really subject to comingtobe and perishing. Notes on book zeta of aristotle s metaphysics, being the record of a seminar held in london, 19759. The principal subject is being qua being, or being insofar as it is being. Is the essence of triangle the same as the form triangle. The underlying argument of aristotles metaphysics z. Aristotles metaphysics z and h university of houston. A more interesting case is when substance is identified with forms or ideas. It examines what can be asserted about any being insofar as it is and not because of any. He begins by reiterating and refining some of what he said in that being is said in many ways, and that the primary sense of being is the sense in which substances are beings.
If i had to compile a list of books to read along with zeta, how aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta by. Substance in aristotles metaphysics zeta ebook, 2019. If i had to compile a list of books to read along with zeta, how aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta by frank lewis would currently be among the top five. Norman dahl offers a thorough, detailed and sophisticated analysis of book 7 zeta, as its commonly known of aristotles metaphysics, a book of the metaphysics universally recognized to be both central to its project and difficult to understand. The aristotles metaphysics community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Nov 09, 2015 in this video, professor thorsby gives a close reading of aristotle s metaphysics book vii.
The first three are concerned specifically with the categories, the fourth directly addresses the problem of the compatibility of the categories with the metaphysics, and the remaining chapters are aimed at constructing an account of metaphysics zeta that will show how it is compatible with the categories. The book demands careful reading and amply repays it. How aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta oxford aristotle. Great guide to zeta and eta especially context for zeta 79. Naturalphilosophersarenotultimate philosophers,theprincipleofnonacontradictionpncisthemost.
The middle books are generally considered the core of the metaphysics. Metaphysica is one of the principal works of aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. It is commonly understood to contain aristotles deepest thoughts on the definition of substance and surrounding metaphysical issues. Cohen, curd, and reeve metaphysics vii, selections. Focusing on the medieval reception of book zeta of aristotles metaphysics, volume one of this work offers an unprecedented and philosophically oriented study of medieval ontology against the background of the current metaphysical debate on the nature of material objects.
Wisdom sophia is the science of first causes and principles. The relationship between books zeta and eta of aristotle s metaphysics by daniel devereux fantastic guide to book alpha. Aristotle s metaphysics zeta contains his considered views on primary substances. Aristotles metaphysics is divided into fourteen books, which are usually named after the first thirteen letters of the greek alphabet. It examines what can be asserted about any being insofar as it is and not because of any special qualities it has. Aristotle does admit that in one sense the essence and accident are the same, for to be tall is the same as to be the quality tall. Aristotles metaphyics book 7, translated by moerbeke. In this respect aristotles theory of substance represents the culmination of several decades of tough scholarly re. The principal subject is being qua being, or being understood as being. Aristotle divided the theoretical sciences into three groups.
Book by book analysis book i a, alpha, 980a993a first causes and principles 1 knowledge of sensation is to science. All serious students of metaphysics z will often profit from consulting this volume. How aristotle gets by in metaphysics zeta book, 20. The categories and metaphysics zeta book vii are often thought to be incompatible because each posits different candidates for the title of primary substance or ousia. Book zeta opens with the idea that there are several ways in which things are said to be, but says that one of these meanings is primary. In the categories, primary substance is the concrete individual thing, while in zeta, it is the form or essence of the individual thing, which is now understood as a composite.
Notes on book zeta of aristotles metaphysics, being the record of a seminar held in london, 19759. Metaphysics by aristotle book vii classical wisdom weekly. The metaphysics is, to say the least, a difficult read. And he is able to go on in book 12 to discover a good deal about that being.
But aristotle himself did not use that title or even describe his field of study as metaphysics. He was flemish by birth his surname indicating an origin in moerbeke, and a dominican by vocation. The aristotles metaphysics community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of aristotle 384322 b. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses. Lewis presents a closely argued exposition of metaphysics zetaone of aristotles most dense and controversial texts.
Aristotles metaphysics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Physics as he understood it was equivalent to what would now be called natural philosophy, or the study of nature physis. These three chapters have a topical unity but are not closely linked to the surrounding discussion z. More than a quarter of a century ago i first encountered book zeta of aristotles metaphysics. Lewis presents a closely argued exposition of metaphysics zeta one of aristotle s most dense and controversial texts. Summary of where weve come so far see points 17, p.
Dahl expertly leads the reader through the intricacies of zetas arguments, chapter by. The relationship between books zeta and eta of aristotles metaphysics by daniel devereux fantastic guide to book alpha. In this respect aristotles theory of substance represents the culmination of several decades of tough scholarly. Metaphysics aristotle project gutenberg selfpublishing. No book or chapter necessarily follows from points made in a previous book or chapter.