Aristotle, De Anima 1.3, 406b2 κατὰ τὸ σῶµα

Abstract My aim in this paper is to examine Aristotle’s assertion in De Anima 1.3, 406b1-3 that the soul engages in the same motion as the body, focusing particularly on the puzzle and contentious phrase at 406b2, κατὰ τὸ σῶµα . By clarifying Aristotle’s specific notion of sameness and the argument’s context, I will attempt to demonstrate that it is still possible to defend the traditional interpretation of the phrase κατὰ τὸ σῶµα without emending the text. As I shall show, Aristotle’s assertion here is neither a repetition of his previous major premise nor an inappropriate generalization that hinders him from reaching a further conclusion. Instead, it serves as a crucial step in demonstrating the incoherence of the Platonic view, which posits that the soul is essentially a self- moving entity.