Nature and the Artificial
Aristotelian Reflections on the Operative Imperative
By (author) Edward Engelmann
Not available to order
Publication date:
21 March 2017Length of book:
184 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksISBN-13: 9781498538855
For years now much attention has been given to the phenomenon of the artificial. Speculation regarding “what is real?” abounds in the sciences, literature, as well as films and other visual arts. This work presents the first critical, sustained, philosophical study on this topic.
Nature and the Artificial: Aristotelian Reflections on the Operative Imperative reveals the inner logic of the artificial by reflecting it off the metaphysical relationship between nature and techne as conceived by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. During early modernity, figures such as Descartes and Bacon transformed this understanding, giving rise to the notion of the “operative imperative.” Nature and techne, for the Aristotelian tradition and for us, can only be understood in terms of their dialectical relationship to one another. Aristotle articulates this relationship with the phrase “techne imitates nature.” With the operative imperative, however, a certain reversal takes place, whereby techne becomes the paradigm for nature. As Ed Engelmann demonstrates, the operative imperative, together with the phenomenon of the artificial it implies, stands to Aristotelian metaphysics of nature as image is to original.
Anyone who believes that the rise of the artificial in our civilization needs the intensive study it deserves—as well as those who are seeking innovative insights into Aristotelian tradition—will want to read this book.
Nature and the Artificial: Aristotelian Reflections on the Operative Imperative reveals the inner logic of the artificial by reflecting it off the metaphysical relationship between nature and techne as conceived by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. During early modernity, figures such as Descartes and Bacon transformed this understanding, giving rise to the notion of the “operative imperative.” Nature and techne, for the Aristotelian tradition and for us, can only be understood in terms of their dialectical relationship to one another. Aristotle articulates this relationship with the phrase “techne imitates nature.” With the operative imperative, however, a certain reversal takes place, whereby techne becomes the paradigm for nature. As Ed Engelmann demonstrates, the operative imperative, together with the phenomenon of the artificial it implies, stands to Aristotelian metaphysics of nature as image is to original.
Anyone who believes that the rise of the artificial in our civilization needs the intensive study it deserves—as well as those who are seeking innovative insights into Aristotelian tradition—will want to read this book.
Ed Engelmann's book Nature and the Artificial: Aristotelian Reflections on the Operative Imperative, is an erudite and challenging look at the roots of today's operative, and ultimately artificial intelligence. It traces the history of the Aristotelian worldview, and shows that our current paradigm it relation to it as image to original. It will provoke a much-needed reassessment of that tradition.