
Man, God, and Rain: Is Aristotelian Teleology Hierarchical?
Author(s) -
Brandon Henrigillis
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
akropolis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.101
H-Index - 1
eISSN - 2536-5738
pISSN - 2536-572X
DOI - 10.35296/jhs.v1i0.5
Subject(s) - teleology , metaphysics , philosophy , epistemology , interpretation (philosophy) , cosmic cancer database , physics , linguistics , astrophysics
There are some passages within the Aristotelian corpus that indicate that Aristotle argued for a wider and more cosmic teleology than he is usually understood to have held. There are two interpretive camps that have been formed as a response to these passages. The first argues that Aristotle held only the internal teleology that he is commonly associated with, and the second argues that Aristotle must have defended a hierarchical teleology in which some things in the universe are meant to benefit other things. I argue that both sides are mistaken, and that the key to understanding Aristotelian teleology is through a correct interpretation of Metaphysics Λ 10.