Ribera-Martin, Ignacio De (Author)
Journal of the History of Biology
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 87-124
There are two different notions of seed (sperma) at work in the Generation of Animals: seed as the spermatic residue (perittôma), which concerns only the male and the female generative contributions, and seed as the kuêma and first mixture of the two generative contributions. The latter is a notion of seed common to plants and animals. The passage in GA I.18, 724b12–22 where Aristotle distinguishes between these two notions of seed has been mistakenly discredited as inauthentic or simply as irrelevant for understanding the seeds of animals. On the other hand, recent studies have rather focused on the seed as spermatic residue (in particular, the female contribution as seed), paying little attention to the notion of seed as kuêma. In this paper I defend the authenticity and relevance of this passage and show how understanding the notion of seed as kuêma is essential to have a complete picture of Aristotle’s account of seed. This common notion of seed makes sense of Aristotle’s otherwise puzzling use of the word “sperma” to designate the seeds of plants, the kuêma, the fertilized eggs, and the first mixture of the two generative contributions. It also proves helpful in determining what the word ‘sperma’ stands for in key passages, such as Metaph. IX.7.
...MoreSimilar Citations
Chapter
Kosman, L. Aryeh;
(2010)
Male and Female in Aristole's Generation of Animals
(/isis/citation/CBB001500202/)
Article
Marzia Soardi;
(2017)
Genetic Malformations and Anomalies within the Aristotelian Theory of Reproduction
(/isis/citation/CBB953614284/)
Article
Connell, Sophia M.;
(2000)
Aristotle and Galen on sex difference and reproduction: A new approach to an ancient rivalry
(/isis/citation/CBB000111309/)
Article
Khafiz Kerimov;
(2021)
Καθάπερ ἄνθρωπος φρόνιμος: Prudence in Aristotle’s Ethics and Biology
(/isis/citation/CBB109022079/)
Book
Tipton, Jason A.;
(2014)
Philosophical Biology in Aristotle's Parts of Animals
(/isis/citation/CBB001500574/)
Article
Modell, Stephen;
(2009)
Aristotelian Influence in the Formation of Medical Theory
(/isis/citation/CBB001030463/)
Book
Gotthelf, Allan;
Leunissen, Mariska;
Beullens, Pieter;
(2012)
Teleology, First Principles and Scientific Method in Aristotle's Biology
(/isis/citation/CBB001250500/)
Article
Lennox, James G.;
(2014)
Aristotle on the Emergence of Material Complexity: Meteorology IV and Aristotle's Biology
(/isis/citation/CBB001421726/)
Article
Ina Goy;
(2018)
Was Aristotle the ‘Father’ of the Epigenesis Doctrine?
(/isis/citation/CBB905756776/)
Chapter
Makus, Ingrid;
(2009)
Hobbes and Aristotle on Biology, Reason and Reproduction
(/isis/citation/CBB001201161/)
Article
Devin Henry;
(2006)
Understanding Aristotle's Reproductive Hylomorphism
(/isis/citation/CBB047530071/)
Article
Lo Presti, Roberto;
(2014)
Informing Matter and Enmattered Forms: Aristotle and Galen on the “Power” of the Seed
(/isis/citation/CBB001202231/)
Article
O'Connor, Scott;
(2015)
The Subjects of Natural Generations in Aristotle’s Physics I.7
(/isis/citation/CBB001202192/)
Article
Wilberding, James;
(2014)
Teratology in Neoplatonism
(/isis/citation/CBB001202235/)
Article
Nicola Carraro;
(2019)
Dualisers in Aristotle’s Biology
(/isis/citation/CBB681371081/)
Article
Macfarlane, Patrick;
(2013)
Aristotle on Fire Animals (Generation of Animals iii 11, 761b16--24)
(/isis/citation/CBB001212324/)
Article
Imai, Masahiro;
(2012)
Aristotle on the Debate about the Central Organ of the Human Body in the 5th and 4th Centuries BC
(/isis/citation/CBB001214344/)
Article
Andrea Falcon;
Klaus Corcilius;
(2022)
Aristotle on Remembering and Memory: Toward an Interpretation of Mem. 1
(/isis/citation/CBB397896023/)
Book
Zucker, Arnaud;
(2005)
Aristote et les classifications zoologiques
(/isis/citation/CBB000640549/)
Chapter
Lennox, James G.;
(2010)
The Unity and Purpose of On the Parts of Animals I
(/isis/citation/CBB001500201/)
Be the first to comment!