Does Aristotle Refute the Harmonia Theory of the Soul?

Douglas J. Young

Department of Philosophy, Lycoming College, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpp.2013.31008                

Abstract

In Aristotle’s On the Soul he considers and refutes two versions of the harmonia theory of the soul’s relation to the body. According to the harmonia theory, the soul is to the body what the tuning of a musical instrument is to its material parts. Though he believes himself to have entirely dismissed the view, he has not. I argue that Aristotle’s hylomorphic account is, in fact, an instance of the harmonia theory.

Keywords

Aristotle; Soul; Body; Hylomorphism; Harmonia; Tuning; Mind-Body Problem

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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