CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2018
| Author | Rotsia Dimou, Eleftheria |
|---|---|
| Title | The epistemic value of 'kata ton logon': Meteorology 1.7 |
| Summary | Ι will attempt to shed some light on the troubling matter of the obscure particulars ― treated by Aristotle in Meteorology ― (τῶν ἀφ αν& #x1ff6;ν τῇ α f30;σ b8;ή< 3;ει ;), that is, phenomena which are not apparent to the senses in their full extent (Meteorology 344a5). In the framework of the present paper, the aim is to highlight the use of κατά τόν λό& #x3b3;ο&# x3bd; which appears in the first lines of the chapter I.7 of Aristotle’s Meteorology, by focusing upon two philosophical questions: one ontological (what is the ontological status of obscure phenomena?) and one epistemological (can we come to the knowledge of such phenomena, and if so, in which way?). Aristotle proposes two answers for these questions in the text, respectively: The meteora (and therefore the comets discussed in chapter I.7 of Meteorology) are natural entities. However, phenomena discussed in Meteorology, although particulars, cannot be fully observed by the senses. Also, one can come to the knowledge of them by giving a reasonable account (κατά τόν λό& #x3b3;ο&# x3bd;) which requires the use of analogy. I will show that Aristotle, indeed, places comets in the sublunar world and that the reasonable account ― which include an analogy ― is of epistemic value. Such arguments are not justification arguments; however, rather they are a part of Aristotle’s method of discovery, and they serve as something more than an explanation and/or illustration. I am confident that this reasonable account lies in the context of a ‘heuristic process’. I will show that when it comes to justification in terms of a ‘correctness’ of a theory Aristotle turns to empirical observations, since we cannot speak of justifying something that is so prone to error as phenomena hidden from our senses, such as comets, are. |
| Supervisor | Bodnar, Istvan |
| Department | Philosophy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2018/rotsia_eleftheria.pdf |
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