Aristotle on How Animals Move
The De incessu animalium: Text, Translation, and Interpretative Essays

Critical edition, translation, and extended interpretation of this important work which reveals the operation of Aristotle's methodology.

Andrea Falcon (Edited by), Stasinos Stavrianeas (Edited by), Pantelis Golitsis (Contributions by)

9781108491334, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 June 2021

320 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.4 cm, 0.61 kg

The De incessu animalium forms an integral part of Aristotle's biological corpus but is one of the least studied Aristotelian works both by ancient and modern interpreters. Yet it is a treatise where we can see, with some clarity and detail, Aristotle's methodology at work. This volume contains a new critical edition of the Greek text, an English translation, and nine in-depth interpretative essays. A general introduction that focuses on the explanatory strategies adopted by Aristotle in the De incessu animalium plus a historical essay on the reception of this work in antiquity and beyond open the volume. No other work of this kind has been published in any modern language.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Explanatory Strategies in the De incessu animalium Andrea Falcon
2. The Reception of the De incessu animalium Andrea Falcon
Part II. Greek Text and Translation: Part III. Interpretative Essays: 3. De incessu animalium 1–3: The Theoretical Framework and the Beginning of the Actual Investigation Andrea Falcon
4. De incessu animalium 4: Aristotle's Conception of Dimension Panos Dimas
5. De incessu animalium 5–6: The Architecture of Locomotive Bodies Klaus Corcilius
6. De incessu animalium 7–8: Number and Distribution of Feet in Animal Progression Stasinos Stavrianeas
7. De incessu animalium 9: Aristotle's Mathematical Kinesiology: The Case of Bending Christopher Frey
8. De incessu animalium 10–11: Flight and Two-Footedness Timothy Clarke
9. De incessu animalium 12–13: Limb-Bending and Natural Teleology Spyridon Rangos
10. De incessu animalium 14–15: Teleology Across Kinds Sarah Ruth Jansen
11. De incessu animalium 16–19: The Motion of Many-Footed Animals and Cases of Peculiar Motion in Water Pantelis Golitsis.

Subject Areas: Impact of science & technology on society [PDR], Industrial applications of scientific research & technological innovation [PDG], Philosophy of science [PDA], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]