Alexander of Aphrodisias on analysis to the first principle

Abstract

In this paper I explore Alexander's interpretation of Aristotle's arguments for the First Unmoved Mover, as it can be reconstructed from various sources. Alexander sets out to provide a clear answer to many of the puzzles that have haunted this topic until today. I argue that Alexander regards the argument summarized in Quaest. I.1 as an instance of dialectic serving philosophical goals, as he describes it in his Topics commentary. More particularly, I identify the argument in the second part of Quaest. I.1 as a case of analysis in the sense of reduction to (matter and) form, which is one of the meanings of ‘analysis’ that Alexander lists in his commentary on the Prior Analytics.