St Joan of Arc Chapel

The Marquette University

The Midwest Seminar in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

and

The Aquinas and ‘the Arabs’ International Working Group

are pleased to host

Damon Watson

Marquette University

presenting

“Determination and Aristotelian Definitions”

Video Available. Click HERE.

2-4 pm pm Wednesday 24 October 2018

Raynor Library 320a

Abstract

     In Metaphysics Zeta 12 and Eta 6 Aristotle deals with the question of how a definition of a substance can be a unity. It seems that Zeta 12 establishes definitional unity via a special relationship among the terms involved in a definition. In short, the determination relation seems to be what grounds Zeta 12’s account of definitional unity. On the other hand, Eta 6 would appear to focus more on the ontological unity of the form and matter involved in the defined substance. It is in relation to this ontological unity that Eta 6 seems to establish the unity of the definition. In this talk I offer a reading of the two passages that sees them as fundamentally pursuing the same point but from two different angles. The key to my reading lies in bringing insights from Aristotle’s Parts of Animals into the discussion. One thing that emerges from this reading is a rich notion of the determination relation that has some interesting contemporary coincidences.

Biographical information

     Damon Watson is a PhD candidate in the Marquette University Philosophy Department writing his dissertation on what an essence is for Aristotle. In this work he develops an account of essence that harmonizes Aristotle’s views on essence in the Parts of Animals and the Metaphysics. A central point in that account is Aristotle’s understanding of determination. Watson develops an interpretation of determination in Aristotle that allows for definitions of animals that satisfy metaphysical desiderata, such as unity of definition, while simultaneously allowing for definitions complex enough to function in Aristotle’s actual biological explanations. Watson’s director is Prof. Owen Goldin. Watson's AOS is in Aristotle and ancient metaphysics; his AOC is in medieval, Plato, Kant, logic, and ethics. He anticipates the completion and defense of his dissertation in Spring of 2019 with the PhD to be awarded in Spring 2019. He currently lives with his wife and two children in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Link to CV: click HERE.