Table of Contents
List of figure and tables ix
Acknowledgements x
List of abbreviations xii
Introduction 1
1 Aristotle's defense of natural teleology: setting the stage for teleological explanations in the Physica 10
1.0 Introduction 10
1.1 Preliminary remarks on final causes in art and nature 11
1.2 Aristotle's first argument in defense of natural teleology 22
1.3 The nature and scope of natural teleology 32
1.4 Conclusion 47
2 Aristotle's bio-functional account of the soul: establishing the starting points of teleological explanation in the De Anima 49
2.0 Introduction 49
2.1 Teleology in the analysis of the nature of the soul 50
2.2 Teleology in the analysis of the capacities of the soul 57
2.3 Conclusion 74
3 Introducing biology as a demonstrative science: the theory of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium I 76
3.0 Introduction 76
3.1 Biology as a demonstrative science 77
3.2 Primary and secondary teleology 81
3.3 "Necessity is spoken of in many ways" 99
3.4 Conclusion 110
4 Explaining parts of animals: the practice of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium II-IV 112
4.0 Introduction 112
4.1 The organization and heuristic methods of De Partibus Animalium books II-IV 113
4.2 Aristotle's use of teleological principles as heuristic tools 119
4.3 Explanations in biology: references to form, matter, and function 135
4.4 Conclusion 150
5 Making sense of the heavens: the limits of teleological explanation in the De Caelo 152
5.0 Introduction 152
5.1 Cosmology as science of nature 155
5.2 Explaining why there is a plurality of motions of the heavens (example 1) 160
5.3 Explaining why the heavenly bodies move with different complexities (example 2) 165
5.4 Explaining why stars have no feet (example 3) 168
5.5 Conclusion 174
6 Aristotle's model of science: formalizing teleological explanations in the Analytica Posteriora 176
6.0 Introduction 176
6.1 Causes, explanations, and middle terms 177
6.2 Towards a new reading of APo II.II 182
6.3 The formalization of the example of teleological explanation 189
6.4 The structure of actual teleological explanations: evidence from De Partibus Animalium 198
6.5 Conclusion 205
Appendix: Translation of Aristotle's APo II.II, 94a20-94b26 206
7 Conclusion 208
7.1 The priority of teleological explanations 209
7.2 The (syllogistic) structure of teleological explanations 211
7.3 The integration of final causes and necessity in teleological explanations 215
7.4 The explanatory power of teleological explanations 218
Bibliography 221
General index 237
Index locorum 241
