Aristotle develops an original and subtle conception of the unity of soul and body. The soul of the living being is to its body what form is to matter: it is its principle or internal program of organization and development. Their unity is therefore substantial without them being confused. Aristotle thus opens a unique path to overcome the alternative of dualism and monism. The unity of the compound of soul and body is according to him an indisputable fact and which, as such, does not call for justification; but how can we conceive the unity of the living if it is made up of two principles, one corporeal, the other incorporeal? The solution to the paradox consists of refusing a static or purely morphological representation of the animated being according to which life would be the superposition or inexplicable addition of two distinct entities. From the simplest organic movements to the most elaborate activities, such as moral actions, life always consists of a synthesis of movements that are both psychic and bodily. The unity of life results from the coherence of its activities. To understand this, it is necessary to analyze the essential, but often neglected, contribution that Short treatises on natural history and the treaty On the movement of animals
contribute to the problem of the treatise On the Soul. This is what this book sets out to do by weaving the link that connects matter to action and, beyond that, the philosophy of life to practical philosophy. He makes a decisive contribution not only to Aristotle’s thought but also to the general problem of the relationships between the soul and the body.
Publisher:
Vrin
Place of publication:
ParisPublished on OpenEdition Books:
November 24, 2025Digital ISBN: 978-2-345-00176-8
DOI: 10.4000/1575b Series:
Tradition of classical thought
Year of publication: 2007
ISBN (Print version): 978-2-7116-1929-0
Number of pages: 208
First part. The problem of the unity of life
Second part. The organization of movements
Third part. From life to action
