Cause and explanation in ancient Greek thought

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Preface

Contents

Note on Citations

Introduction

I. The Presocratics

1. Prehistory

2. The Milesians

3. Causal Origination

4. Pluralism and Emergence

5. Conclusions

II. Science and Sophistry

1. Rational Medicine

2. The Sophists

3. History

4. Conclusions

III. Plato

1. Metaphysics and Causation

2. Causation and the Soul

3. Hypothesis and Explanation

4. Timaeus: The Model Applied

5. Coda: Mathematical and Astronomical Theory

6. Conclusions

IV. Aristotle: Explanation and Nature 1. The Structure of Reality2. Causation and Coincidence

3. Teleological Explanation

4. The Explanation of Action

5. Conclusions

V. Aristotle: Explanation and the World

1. Demonstration and Explanation

2. Observation and Science

3. Theophrastus and After

4. Conclusions

VI. The Atomists

1. Democritus

2. Epicureanism and Explanation

3. Freedom and the Explanation of Action

4. Later Epicurean Scientific Epistemology

5. Conclusions

VII. The Stoics

1. Stoic Causal Theory

2. Freedom and Determinism 3. Stoic Cosmology4. Conclusions

VIII. The Sceptics

1. The Development of Scepticism

2. Aenesidemus against the Aetiologists

3. The General Attack on Causes

4. The Modes of Agrippa

5. Scepticism and Science

6. Conclusions

IX. Explanation in the Medical Schools

1. The Limits of Explanation

2. Empiricism and Rationalism

3. Methodism

4. Conclusions

X. The Age of Synthesis

1. The Origins of Syncretism

2. The Convergence of the Schools

3. The Emergence of Middle Platonism 4. The Revival of Aristotelianism: Alexander of Aphrodisias5. Conclusions

XI. Science and Explanation

1. Ptolemy

2. Galen: The Structure of Causation

3. The Aristotelian Influence

4. Galen's Teleology

5. Powers, Functions, and Activities

6. Conclusions

XII. The Neoplatonists

1. The Roots of Neoplatonism

2. Plotinus' System

3. After Plotinus

4. Conclusions and Reflections

Appendix: List of Abbreviated Principles

References

Index of Passages Cited

General Index

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