Abstract

SEGGIARO, Claudia. The Aristotelian notion of noûs: Knowledge of first principles and contemplative life in Aristotle's Protrepticus. Sig. Fil [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.32, pp.38-70. ISSN 1665-1324.

The aim of this article is to analyze the notion of noûs in Aristotle's Protrepticus. For this, I will focus on fragments 24, 28, 65 (6) and 110 (10c). By examining fragment 24, I argue that noûs is a faculty whose goal is the knowledge of intelligible objects. Through the analysis of fragments 28 and 65 (6), I try to show that the exercise of this faculty is not only one activity among others, but that it is distinctive of human beings, their own function, and for this reason, that on which their happiness depends. Finally, by means of fragment 110 (10c), I try to demonstrate why, despite the fact the noûs accounts for the divine in man, it constitutes his specific nature, that which not only sets him apart from other beings, but also from gods.

Keywords : Aristotle; noûs; first principles; Protrepticus; contemplative life.