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In this book Robert Roreitner offers a fresh interpretation of Aristotle's philosophically intriguing answers to what the nature of perception is, how it can be explained, and how perception is distinguished from mere appearance. He argues that for Aristotle, perception is a complete passive activity, and explains why this notion merely appears self-contradictory to us. He shows how Aristotle succeeds in integrating causal, qualitative, and relational aspects of perception, and explains why he is neither a 'spiritualist' nor a 'materialist'. He presses and resolves an unappreciated dilemma for Aristotle's hylomorphic account of perception and the role of the soul therein. This rich study shows that although Aristotle's understanding of perception may be in many respects outmoded, its core insights remain philosophically engaging. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
List of contents
Introduction; 1. Accounting for receptivity; 2. The predecessors' Dilemma; 3. Complete passive activity; 4. The flesh and bones of perception; 5. The passivity of perception and the impassive soul; 6. Perception as a discriminative activity; 7. Reception of forms without the matter and its unmoved causes; Conclusion; Appendix; Index.
About the author
Robert Roreitner is Assistant Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Charles University in Prague. He is a co-author of Aristotle on the Essence of Human Thought (2024).
Summary
This book provides a fresh interpretation of Aristotle's account of perception, refocusing the debate and emphasising what remains philosophically relevant. It will engage experts on Aristotle and help those who work in ancient philosophy, including advanced students, while inviting contemporary philosophers to engage with Aristotle's thought.
