Aristotle on the Sense-Organs

This book offers an important study of Aristotle’s theory of the sense-organs. It aims to answer two questions central to Aristotle’s psychology and biology: why does Aristotle think we have sense-organs, and why does he describe the sense-organs in the way he does? The author looks at all the Aristotelian evidence for the five senses and shows how pervasively Aristotle’s accounts of the sense-organs are motivated by his interest in form and function. The book also engages with the celebrated problem of whether perception for Aristotle requires material changes in the perceiver. It argues that, surprisingly to the modern philosopher, nothing in Aristotle’s description of the sense-organs requires us to believe in such changes.

• On Aristotle’s theory of the sense-organs • A contribution to a famous modern debate about the credibility of Aristotle’s philosophy of mind • A contribution to debates about the relationship between Aristotle’s psychology and biology

Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations of Aristotle\'s works; Introduction; 1. Sight; 2. The medium; 3. Hearing; 4. The contact senses; 5. Smell; 6. The actuality of perception; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index locorum; General index.

‘… a valuable contribution to the field. The book is well written and well documented. Johansen demonstrates an ability to convey difficult positions with great clarity and frequently illustrates the issues with illuminating analogies and examples … I found the work to be very stimulating and informative … [It] represents the most extensive defense of the phenomenal model to date. I would recommend the work to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and scholars.’

– Bryn Mawr Classical Review