Publication Date:
2018
abstract:
The question I deal with is Aristotle's treatment of agathon in Metaphysics
VII 6, as compared to the treatment of the same notion in famous passages from
Ethics (EE 1217b26 ff. ; EN 1096a19 ff.) and Topics (107a5 ff.). In these latter
agathon is considered as homonymous in that it assumes as many meanings as the
categories, whereas in Metaphysics VII 6 (1031a28-b3) Aristotle employes the
example of agathon in order to examine the relationship between every reality in
itself and its essence. In this context Aristotle uses the notion of "good in itself ", as
an example of hekaston which should be identical to its essence : as a consequence
of such an identity, "good in itself " shoud be a synonimous notion and have a
univocal definition. Is the treatment of agathon in Metaphysics VII 6 opposed to
what Aristotle claims in Ethics and Topics ? In my opinion, what is to be pointed
out is not a contradiction, but a difference in perspective, which has rarely been
emphasised. My aim is to analyse the possible reasons for this difference in perspective.
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
Aristotle; Metaphysics; Good
List of contributors:
Alesse, Francesca
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