Spring 2021 Schedule
All dates given below are subject to change. An up-to-date calendar is always available here .
Subscribe to the calendar to stay up-to-date with assignments and meetings.
Important Dates
| Date | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar | Term Paper 1 Prompts Posted | |
| 15 Mar | Term Paper 1 Outline Due | |
| 22 Mar | Commentary 1 Passages Posted | Term Paper 1 Preliminary Draft Due |
| 4 Apr | Term Paper 1 Final Draft Due | |
| 12 Apr | Term Paper 2 Prompts Posted | |
| 14 Apr | Commentary 1 Due | |
| 16 Apr | Term Paper 2 Outline Due | |
| 23 Apr | Term Paper 2 Preliminary Draft Due | |
| 3 May | Commentary 2 Passages Posted | |
| 30 Apr | Term Paper 2 Final Draft Due | |
| 10 May | Term Paper 3 Outline Due | |
| 24 May | Term Paper 3 Preliminary Draft Due | |
| 31 May | Commentary 2 Due | |
| 7 Jun | Term Paper 3 Final Draft Due |
Schedule of Topics & Readings
Topics and readings subject to change.
| Date | Topic & Assigned Materials |
|---|---|
| 16 Feb | Introduction & Course Basics |
| Unit 1 | Background: Ontology & Explanation in the Organon |
| 19 Feb | Categories 1–5 |
| 23 Feb | Prior Analytics 1.1–2, 27–30 |
| Unit 2 | Aristotle’s Argument for Hylomorphism |
| 2.1 A Puzzle About Coming-to-Be | |
| 25 Feb | Physics 1.1–6 |
| 2.2 A Solution to the Puzzle | |
| 2 Mar | Physics 1.7–9 |
| 4 Mar | Bostock, “Aristotle on the Principles of Change in Physics I” |
| Henry, “The Hylomorphic Model of Substantial Generation: Physics I” | |
| 2.3 Distinguishing Substantial and Non-Substantial Coming to Be | |
| 9 Mar | Generation and Corruption 1.1–4 (esp. chs. 3–4) |
| 11 Mar | Henry, “Substantial versus Non-Substantial Change: GC I 1–4” |
| Unit 3 | Natural Substances as Hylomorphic Compounds |
| 3.1 Nature and Causation | |
| 16 Mar | Physics 2.1–6 |
| 18 Mar | Stavrianeas, “Nature as a Principle of Change” |
| Kelsey, “Hylomorphism in Aristotle’s Physics” | |
| 3.2 Necessity & Teleology | |
| 23 Mar | Physics 2.7–9 |
| 25 Mar | Scharle, “Man from Man but not Bed from Bed” |
| Kress, “How Things Happen for the Sake of Something” | |
| 3.3 A Hylomorphic Model of Natural Generation | |
| 30 Mar | Generation and Corruption 2.9–11 |
| 1 Apr | Henry, “The Extended Hylomorphic Model: GC II 9” |
| Unit 4 | Consequences for a Theory of Substance |
| 6,8 Apr | No Class: Spring Break |
| 4.1 Is Substance Matter, Form, or What is From Them? Some Puzzles | |
| 13 Apr | Metaphysics Z.1–4, 6 |
| 15 Apr | Lewis, “Subjects in Metaphysics Zeta 3” |
| Lewis, “Sameness, Substitution, and Essence (II)” | |
| 4.2 Solutions: Substance as Cause of Being | |
| 20 Apr | Metaphysics Z.15–17 |
| Metaphysics Z.7–9 (Optional) | |
| 22 Apr | Charles, “Definition and Explanation in the Posterior Analytics and Metaphysics” |
| Unit 5 | Applications: the Soul in Animal Generation |
| 5.1 Soul as the Form of a Living Body | |
| 27 Apr | De Anima 2.1–3 |
| 29 Apr | Whiting, “Living Bodies” |
| Johansen, “Towards a Scientific Definition of the Soul: DA 2.2” | |
| 5.2 Closer to a “Scientific” Account of Soul | |
| 4 May | De Anima 2.4, 3.12–13 |
| 6 May | Leunissen, “Aristotle’s Bio-Functional Account of the Soul” |
| Howton, “Why De Anima Needs III 12–13” | |
| 5.3 Formal & Material Natures in Aristotle’s Biology | |
| 11 May | Parts of Animals 1.1, 642a1–b2 |
| Lennox, “Material and Formal Natures in Aristotle’s De Partibus Animalium” | |
| 13 May | No Class: Ramazan Bayramı |
| 5.4 Matter & Form in Natural Reproduction | |
| 18 May | Generation of Animals 1.21–2.1 |
| 20 May | Connell, “The Male as Efficient and Formal Cause of Generation” |
| Henry, “How Sexist Is Aristotle’s Developmental Biology?” | |
| 5.5 Two Models of Embryogenesis | |
| 25 May | Generation of Animals 2.3–6 |
| 27 May | Leunissen, “Introducing Biology as a Demonstrative Science”, sect.3.2 |
| Henry, “The Architectonic Model”, esp. Appendix |