Causality and Causal Explanation in Aristotle

Nathanael Stein’s book addresses these two questions. It is not a survey of Aristotle’s claims, but rather focuses on a set of key conceptual, metaphysical, and epistemological questions that are important both for understanding Aristotle’s responses to his predecessors and for understanding causality in general. The book thus provides the kind of philosophical engagement with Aristotle that has proven so fruitful in other domains, such as ethics and metaphysics. It also aims to contribute to a more accurate understanding of the differences between ancient and modern approaches to the natural world.

This book is meant for anyone interested in philosophical theories of causation and explanation and their history, as well as those who have read Aristotle’s thoughts on the topic of causality and come away wondering what it all really adds up to, and how we might engage with it.