«Ackrill’s Problem» and the «Two-­Body Thesis». For a Criticism of the Functionalist Interpretation of Aristotelian Psychology

Journal title RIVISTA DI STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA
Author/s Giulia Mingucci
Publishing Year 2023 Issue 2023/3
Language Italian Pages 17 P. 447-463 File size 179 KB
DOI 10.3280/SF2023-003007
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The «two-­body thesis» originated as a response to «Ackrill’s Problem» regarding the inapplicability of hylomor-­ phic analysis to the soul-­body relationship but is, in effect, the ultimate defense of the functionalist interpretation of Aristotle’s psychological theory. The article examines the relationship between the supposed «two bodies» and between these and the soul in order to demonstrate that in the case of living beings, it is impossible to establish a contingent relationship between form and matter, not even at the basic level of elements or homeomerous parts. The proposal to identify the «prime matter» of living beings in a particular homeomerous body, i.e. the product of conception in the first month of gestation, will eventually be seen as a possible response to Ackrill’s Problem, showing that the first product of conception is matter not yet alive but naturally and essentially brought to life.

Keywords: hylomorphism, functionalism, body, soul, generation, prime matter.

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Giulia Mingucci, Il «Problema di Ackrill» e la «Tesi dei Due Corpi»: Per una critica all’interpretazione funzionalista della psicologia aristotelica in "RIVISTA DI STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA" 3/2023, pp 447-463, DOI: 10.3280/SF2023-003007