SEG 43

Abstract

This collection of papers presented at a conference held in Bad Homburg marks a revived interest in the biological studies of Aristotle. The intention of the organizers was to approach the subject from various angles, and the papers are thematically arranged in four sections. The first section contains studies dealing with Aristotle's methods of definition and demonstration in his scientific works. M. Wilson discusses the Speusippan model of the natural world, arguing that division is employed by Speusippos to dispel confusion (which W. rightly recognizes as the opposite of knowledge), and exploring the analogy between mathematical and natural realms. D. Charles, by concentrating on fish and their subspecies, points out several difficulties in Aristotle's discussion of the unity of biological kinds and the nature of their essential features, and proposes a line of interpretation, according to which Aristotle has modified in his biological works the assumptions made in the Analytica Posteriora. According to C.'s thesis, although the teleological cause remains central in the biological works in determining the common nature of fish, other explanatory models can be connected with it. The position of W. Kullmann, who sees the Analytica Posteriora as a Propädeutik for the students of the biological works, is stated along similar lines. K. stresses that the theory of Demonstration (Beweistheorie) as presented in the Analytica Posteriora is not exhaustive, and explores the methodological function of ο τ α as a supplement to the abovementioned theory. W. Detel, in an article which the non-expert reader might find difficult to follow, tries a full syllogistic reconstruction of the explanation why all animals have a stomach from the starting point that 'Aristotle wanted scientists to present explanations that may not explicitly exhibit, but are at least puttable into, such (sc. syllogistic) form'. A. Gotthelf discusses the explanation of the elephant's nose by employing a similar model of analysis and concludes that this analysis 'shows how incredibly rich the logical structure of explanation is in Aristotle's biology, and how worth systematic study, from a philosophical point of view, the biological treatises are'. G.'s conclusion summarizes in a few words one of the main purposes of this collection, and one may hope that it will encourage further study of Aristotle's biological works. R. Bolton explores thoroughly the relationship between teleological explanation and material cause from a number of angles; however, many might disagree with the author's overconfident conclusion that Aristotle proves his teleology. The second section contains studies on cause and necessity. A. Code considers the priority of final causes over efficient causes in natural science and the priority of the knowledge of the ο τ α, before one could state the function of the efficient cause. M. L. Gill explores material necessity with reference to Meteorologica 4.12. The author sees this passage as 'a bridge between Aristotle's works on inorganic m...

A critique of generative class theories of environmentalism and of the labour–environmentalist relationship

“…Lee and Turner [eds., 1996] and Milner [1999] provide comprehensive overviews of historic and recent debates about theories of class, both as means of conceptualising social inequality in capitalist societies ('dimensional' class theory), and as explanations of the purported causal processes by which social structures give rise to collective political consciousness and action ('generative' class theories).…”

“…Such theories are comprehensively reviewed and critiqued in Eckersley [1989], Pakulski [1991; and Tranter [1996]; and see also Milner [1999].…”

“…One variation of this argument is that environmental policy proposals which would result in an expansion of public sector activity, or have other redistributive effects, create a material incentive for particular constituencies in the NMC to support such demands [Ward, 1983: 190;Gerritsen, 1990]; another is that the NMC will resile from supporting campaigns which could threaten this power base or career path [Frankel, 1987]. An alternative 'interest thesis' is presented by Milner [1999]. The NMC or 'credentialled intelligentsia' is distinguished by its acquisition, through higher education, of legitimised cultural capital in the form of academic credentials.…”

Introduction: The State of Class Analysis

“…1 The papers in this book derive from a series of seminars funded by the ESRC (R451264 57996) under the title 'Investigating Social Stratification'. Seminars were held at Essex (Jan. 1998), Manchester (April 1998 and1999), Leicester (Sept.l998) and Oxford (Jan. 1999). 2 From among the many that have appeared in recent years, we may cite those of Sease (1992), Edgell (1993), Devine (1997), Cannadine (1998), McKibbin (1998), andMilner (1999), as well as the compilation produced by Lee and Turner (1996).…”

From Syndicalism to Seattle: Class and the Politics of Identity

“…6 For example, cultural studies, originally a discourse about class, the masses, and culture, was transformed into a very different, postmodern discourse about gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, in short, about almost all differences other than those of class. 7 By the last decade of the twentieth century "class" and "identity" had become concepts in opposition and "identity" had become the central concern of new social movement theory and action. Indeed, new social movement politics was effectively rebadged as "identity politics."…”