Chair: Simon Shogry
Abstract: The presentation will tackle the old and much discussed question whether and how, in Aristotle’s view, dialectic can be of service to philosophy. The focus is on the philosopher’s official and programmatic views about dialectic, above all as we know them from the Topics. On the basis of an examination of what Aristotle has to say about the uses of the dialectical method, the nature and varieties of dialectical practice and the materials of which dialectic makes use, I defend the conclusion that dialectic—both the method and the practice—have real if comparatively modest contributions to make to philosophy according to him. The door is left open for the possibility that he may have underestimated the significance of their value for philosophy.
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Professor John Lloyd Ackrill, a leading figure in the study of Ancient Greek philosophy, joined Brasenose College in 1953 and became Professor of the History of Philosophy at Oxford in 1966. He published widely on Aristotle and Plato, and, for over 40 years, he edited the Clarendon Aristotle Series, which are translations of Aristotelian texts accompanied by philosophical commentaries. The John Ackrill Memorial Lecture, inaugurated in 2009, is held in honour of the outstanding contribution he made to the study of ancient philosophy. The previous speakers are: Terence Irwin, David Wiggins, Richard Sorabji, Gisela Striker, David Charles, Gail Fine, Gábor Betegh, Lindsay Judson, Richard Kraut, Mary Margaret McCabe, Katja Maria Vogt, Tad Brennan, Susanne Bobzien, and Rachana Kamtekar.
This event is open to everyone and pre-registration is not required.
