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Aristotle on the Common Sense Summary

Aristotle on the Common Sense by Pavel Gregoric (Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb)

Apart from using our eyes to see and our ears to hear, we regularly and effortlessly perform a number of complex perceptual operations that cannot be explained in terms of the five senses taken individually. Such operations include, for example, perceiving that the same object is white and sweet, noticing the difference between white and sweet, or knowing that one's senses are active. Observing that lower animals must be able to perform such operations, and being unprepared to ascribe any share in rationality to them, Aristotle explained such operations with reference to a higher-order perceptual capacity which unites and monitors the five senses. This capacity is known as the 'common sense' or sensus communis. Unfortunately, Aristotle provides only scattered and opaque references to this capacity. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the exact nature and functions of this capacity have been a matter of perennial controversy. Pavel Gregoric offers an extensive and compelling treatment of the Aristotelian conception of the common sense, which has become part and parcel of Western psychological theories from antiquity through to the Middle Ages, and well into the early modern period. Aristotle on the Common Sense begins with an introduction to Aristotle's theory of perception and sets up a conceptual framework for the interpretation of textual evidence. In addition to analysing those passages which make explicit mention of the common sense, and drawing out the implications for Aristotle's terminology, Gregoric provides a detailed examination of each function of this Aristotelian faculty.

Aristotle on the Common Sense Reviews

A learned, lucidly written, and compellingly argued treatment of its subject, one that surveys and helpfully synthesizes the immense ancient and modern literature on the topic. It also proposes some novel solutions to a number of long-standing textual and interpretative problems... Students should begin their work on this issue here and experts should attend to it, as an undeniably original and important contribution to the scholarly conversation on this subject. * Sean D. Kirkland, Ancient Philosophy *
There has been little extended work devoted to the common sense, the faculty by which Aristotle thinks we coordinate and process the input of the five senses. The lacuna has now been filled by Pavel Gregoric's commendable monograph. This nuanced and original study represents a significant advance in our understanding of Aristotle's common sense. * Thomas K. Johansen, Mind *
Gregoric has produced a valuable contribution to our understanding both of Aristotle's philosophical terminology and of his theory of perception. Some of the texts he discusses in the book, such as De Sensu 7 have long been neglected, even though they provide substantive additions to and clarifications of Aristotle's theory. In discussing those and other texts, Gregoric provides us with well informed, detailed, and lucid interpretations, which, it should be added, are for the most part clearly correct and helpful. All serious students of ancient psychology should read this book. It will inform, illuminate, and stimulate. * Hendrik Lorenz, Rhizai *
Gregoric is no doubt right that this power deserves extended study, and his Part III accounts of its various functions are genuinely illuminating. * Jennifer Whiting, Classical Review *
We would be hard pressed to find a more careful and thoughtful examination of the texts in which Aristotle use the tern, koine aisthesis, or refers to a central perceptual power...this is truly a valuable study of Aristotle's conception of the common sense. Gregoric examines all the relevant texts and probes them by asking many of the right questions...The book will no doubt become a "must read" for serious students of Aristotle's theory of perception and cognition more generally. * Debroah K. W. Modrak, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

Table of Contents

PART I: THE FRAMEWORK; PART II: THE TERMINOLOGY; PART III: FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMON SENSE

Additional information

NPB9780199277377
9780199277377
0199277370
Aristotle on the Common Sense by Pavel Gregoric (Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb)
New
Hardback
Oxford University Press
2007-06-14
268
Winner of Winner of the Conington Prize 2004.
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