Workshop in Ancient Philosophy (Thursday - Week 8, HT22)
Thursday 10th March 2022, 16:00-18:00
Ryle Room, Radcliffe Humanities
Nicolas Zaks (KU Leuven): 'What is the relationship between genus and differentia in Aristotle? The case of Metaphysics Iota'
Chair: Chiara Martini
Part of Aristotle’s solution to the puzzle raised by the unity of definition in Metaphysics Z.12 relies on the idea that a differentia presupposes the genus it differentiates. However, when reflecting on the nature of intermediaries between contraries in Metaphysics I.7, Aristotle seems to think that contrary differentiae do not presuppose the genus they differentiate. Given the importance of differentia for defining substances, the existence of a tension in Aristotle’s views about differentia within the Metaphysics is unwelcome. In this paper, I explore different ways to resolve the tension in Aristotle’s views about differentia in Z.12 and I.7.
If you would like to go out to dinner with the speaker after the meeting, then please contact the chair of the meeting before Tuesday of that week. The meals of the chair and the speaker are covered by the faculty; others attend at their own expense.
The Seminar will take place in the Ryle Room. Colleagues and students who are unable to attend in person are welcome to join remotely, via Microsoft Teams, by clicking this link. You will be redirected to a page in which you will be prompted to sign in with your Oxford SSO.
Workshop in Ancient Philosophy Convenors: Ursula Coope, Simon Shogry and Luca Castagnoli