Johansen, Dr Thomas

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Dr Thomas Johansen
Oxford University
Aristotle's Faculty Psychology
Faculty psychology seeks to explain the multitude of psychological phenomena by reference to
a limited and permanent set of capacities. First developed by ancient philosophers - Aristotle
in particular - the approach was influential in the 18th and 19th centuries. In recent years,
faculty psychology has resurfaced: understood as mental 'modules', faculties are widely
thought to play a fundamental role in cognitive and evolutionary psychology. This study
provides a re-examination of Aristotle's faculty psychology. The project has three aims:

To explain what a psychological faculty is according to Aristotle and what roles the
faculties play within his account of the soul.

To enhance our understanding of Aristotle's psychological naturalism by placing the
faculties of the soul within their biological context.

To assess the relevance of Aristotle's faculty psychology today in the light of recent
theorizing about faculties in cognitive and evolutionary psychology.
The study falls into three parts: Part I considers Aristotle's definition and uses of the faculties
of the soul in the De Anima. Part II considers the application of the faculties in the biological
works to account for the composition and activities of living beings. Finally, Part III explores
the relevance of Aristotle's psychology today through comparisons with cognitive and
evolutionary psychology.
The study is to be published as a monograph.
Webpage: www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/staff/johansen.html
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