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      An Examination of “Life” in Aristotle Concerning the Distinction Between βίος (Bios) and ζωή (Zoe)

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      BAGWELL-THESIS-2018.pdf (900.3Kb)
      Date
      2018-04-30
      Author
      Bagwell, Stephen 1989-
      ORCID
      0000-0003-2377-3770
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Masters
      Metadata
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      Abstract
      In this study, I set out to determine whether the influential understanding of the distinction between bios and zoe in Greek philosophy, and in Aristotle in particular, that Hannah Arendt articulated in her work The Human Condition has a valid foundation in Aristotle’s writings. The distinction entails the view that zoe refers to a biological and cyclical life while bios refers to a life which can form a biography, shaped by the unique capacities of humans for action and speech. By a close reading of the Aristotelian texts that employ concepts referring to “life”—On the Soul, Parva Naturalia, Nicomachean Ethics, and Politics—I begin the enquiry by giving Aristotle’s basic account of bios and zoe. This is then followed by a detailed account of bios because the basic account does not really bring anything new to light for zoe, while what this account tells us concerning bios is insufficient. In fact, it is really the interpretation of bios, rather than zoe, that is controversial and therefore deserves more attention. I argue that Arendt’s account of the distinction between bios and zoe is found in Aristotle and that action and speech play a significant role in the activities of bios.
      Degree
      Master of Arts (M.A.)
      Department
      Philosophy
      Program
      Philosophy
      Supervisor
      Regnier, Daniel
      Committee
      Still, Carl; Jenkins, Maricarmen; Vargo, Lisa; Alward, Peter
      Copyright Date
      June 2018
      URI
      http://hdl.handle.net/10388/8540
      Subject
      Aristotle
      life
      bios
      zoe
      Arendt
      action
      speech
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