Aristotle's History of Animals Term Paper

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Guns: Artistotle's History Of Animals

Aside from philosophy and the more psychological arts, Aristotle's greatest contribution to modern science is probably his writings on zoology. Indeed, the philosopher's powers of observation were keen and in many cases startlingly accurate when the knowledge base of the time is considered. Many of his conclusions regarding the nature, habits and evolution of animals were indeed conducive to the conclusions that led to the science we know today.

In the nine books of his History of Animals then, Aristotle observes animals in their habitat, and uses dissection to discover the mysteries inside the animal body as well. He begins his description in Book I of the physical properties of the animal body, and distinguishes various genera of animals. These are the main types of animals, such as fish, birds, etc. He furthermore goes on to describe the habits, habitat and social structure of groups of animals. This is also described in terms of food processing, reproduction and the senses that animals possess.

Throughout his work, Aristotle takes considerable time to distinguish between animals and human beings. Human beings for example experience the faculty of memory differently and in a much more complex manner than do animals. Aristotle explains that animals do not recall the past at will, but assimilate their experiences to make them part of instinct.

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A similarity between human beings and animals is however how the sense of touch is experienced.

Aristotle was then the first to classify groups of animals into genera, although he did so in a much broader way than scientists of today. He further classifies the animals within the genera into types with and without "blood," which in the philosopher's time referred to red blood. These types were then divided according to their various species. Again, the classification according to blood is reminiscent of today's distinction between vertebrates and invertebrates. Blooded animals include five of the previously defined genera, which are viviparous quadrupeds (mammals), birds, oviparous quadrupeds (reptiles and amphibians), fishes, and whales. Aristotle did not at the time realize that whales were mammals, but did make this distinction for dolphins. Bloodless animals included cephalopods (such as the octopus); crustaceans; insects, shelled animals, and what Aristotle calls "zoophytes," or "plant-animals."

In his scientific research, Aristotle established scientific methodology today. He for example used dialectical (based on logical deduction) and empirical (practical) arguments to present his research findings. He furthermore used detailed observation and dissection in order to present clear and scientific arguments in his work. He was in fact the first scientist to make extensive….....

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