Editing Aristotle (section)

==== Soul ====

{{further | On the Soul}}

[[File:Aristotelian Soul.png| thumb | upright=1.5 | Aristotle proposed a three-part [[Soul#Aristotle|structure for souls]] of plants, animals, and humans, making humans unique in having all three types of soul.]]

Aristotle's [[psychology]], in his treatise ''[[On the Soul]]'' ({{tlit|grc|peri psychēs}}), posits three kinds of [[soul]] ({{tlit|grc|psyches}}): the vegetative, sensitive, and rational. Humans have all three. The vegetative soul is concerned with growth and nourishment. The sensitive soul experiences sensations and movement. The uniquely human, rational soul receives forms of things and compares them using the {{tlit|grc|[[Nous#Aristotle|nous]]}} (intellect) and {{tlit|grc|logos}} (reason).{{sfn|Leroi|2015|pp=156–163}}

For Aristotle, the soul is the [[Hylomorphism#Body–soul hylomorphism|form]] of a living being. Because all beings are composites of form and matter, the form of living beings is that which endows them with what is specific to living beings, e.g. the ability to initiate movement.{{sfn|Shields|2016}} In contrast to earlier philosophers, but in accordance with the Egyptians, he placed the rational soul in the heart.{{sfn|Mason|1979|p=45}} Aristotle distinguished sensation and thought, unlike previous philosophers except for [[Alcmaeon of Croton|Alcmaeon]].{{sfn|Guthrie|2010|p=348}}

In ''On the Soul'', Aristotle criticizes Plato's theory of the soul and develops his own in response. Firstly he criticises Plato's ''Timaeus'' which holds the soul takes up space and can come into physical contact with bodies.{{sfn|On the Soul|loc=I.3 406b26-407a10}} 20th-century scholarship held that Aristotle had here misinterpreted Plato.<ref>For instance, Ross, William D. ed. 1961. ''Aristotle: De Anima''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 189.</ref> Aristotle also argued that Plato's view of reincarnation entails that a soul and its body can be mis-matched; in principle, Aristotle alleges, any soul can go with any body, according to Plato's theory.{{sfn|On the Soul|loc= I.3 407b14–27}}