HPhil Seminar: April 21, 2022

The HPhil (History of Philosophy) Research Group of the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon announces the 2021/22 edition of its permanent seminar on the history of philosophy, devoted to the reading and discussion of seminal philosophical works, as well as to the presentation of conferences by renowned specialists, aiming to promote the permanent training of the academic community.

In this session, Jessica Moss (NYU) will give a lecture entitled “Aristotle on what is knowable by nature” (abstract bellow).

The session will take place on April 21, 2022, at 5PM, in the Room C201.J (Room Mattos Romão, Department of Philosophy). The entrance is free.

We kindly remind that the use of face mask is mandatory inside the building.

Relembramos que o uso de máscara é obrigatório no interior do edifício.

 

Abstract

At several points in the corpus Aristotle claims that learning must begin from what is more knowable (gnôrimon) “to us” and proceed to what is more knowable “by nature.” (See for example Posterior Analytics 71b33-72a5, Physics 184a16-21, and Nicomachean Ethics 1095b3-6). But what is it for something to be knowable by nature? My aim is to illuminate this notion, and in so doing to argue that Aristotle has a unified notion of knowledge – in the ethical as well as theoretical spheres – as good acquaintance with objects or a domain.