The hylomorphic analysis of the substances in Aristotles Metaphysics VII.17 and its implications

• Grant number: 24/05550-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - History of Philosophy
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique Lopes dos Santos
• Grantee: Daniela Fernandes Cruz
• Supervisor: Hendrik Lorenz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Princeton University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/01901-3 - Substance and Cause in Aristotle's Metaphysics: a study of Metaphysics Z17, BP.MS

Abstract

In this project, we intend to analyze two of the main difficulties that emerge from the hylomorphic analysis of the sensible substances in Aristotle's Metaphysics VII.17, namely: i) the problem of hylomorphic predication; ii) the problem of the unity of hylomorphic compounds. Our aim is to better comprehend its implications on the investigation of substance (¿Pï±) in the central books of the Metaphysics. The project is part of a broader research, namely, an ongoing master's research, in which we intend to analyze the whole chapter Met.VII.17, aiming to comprehend the impact of Aristotle's philosophy of science on the ontological doctrine outlined there. Our specific focus, which we plan to explore during the internship, centers on the challenges associated with transitioning the causal-explanatory model from a logical treatise to the ontological framework of Metaphysics in order to conclude the massive investigation undertaken in the book VII. Since the success or failure of this endeavor remains a contentious issue, with no consensus among scholars, one of the main objectives of our research is to elucidate the question by mapping such divergences and deeply exploring the key problematic aspects mentioned above. This study is fundamental to provide a better comprehension not only of the chapter VII.17, but also the whole book VII and its connection with Aristotle's metaphysical project.