Metaphysics: Books 4-6

The books translated are fourth, fifth, and sixth in the traditional ordering of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Their common theme is the nature and scope of metaphysics, discussed in Γ and Ε, and displayed both in the intricate essay on the principles of non-contradiction and excluded middle which occupies the latter part of Γ and also, less directly, in Δ, ostensibly a philosophical lexicon. All three books contain important material on being, substance, accident, unity, truth, cause, and other concepts. The translation is intended to be very close, as an aid to students of Aristotle’s philosophy who are not equipped to check English versions against the Greek text. It is followed by notes which are interpretative and critical. Christopher Kirwan is Emeritus Fellow and Lecturer in Philosophy at Exeter College, Oxford.