HPhil Seminar: September 18, 2025

The HPhil (History of Philosophy) Research Group of the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon announces the 2025/26 edition of its permanent seminar on the history of philosophy, devoted to the presentation of conferences by renowned specialists while also creating opportunities to emerging scholars, aiming to promote advanced studies in groundbreaking debates and the permanent training of its academic community.

In this session of the seminar, María Cañizares López (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) will present a paper, entitled “Dialectic and Philosophy in Metaphysics Γ 4–8”. (abstract below)

The session will take place on September 18, 2025 at 5 p.m., in the Room C201.J (Room Mattos Romão, Department of Philosophy). Admission is free

Abstract

Since the revaluation of Aristotelian dialectic in the last century, Metaphysics Γ has often been regarded as a dialectical text. This reading rests on the fact that its method for establishing the principles of non-contradiction and of the excluded middle relies on elenctic procedures described in the Topics and the Sophistical Refutations. While I agree with this view, I believe that a thorough account of the dialectical character of the argumentation in the book is still needed.

This paper aims to present for discussion an interpretation of Metaphysics Γ 4–8 that more precisely explains its dialectical character. Specifically, I will address the thesis that Aristotle’s use of the techniques described in the Topics and the Sophistical Refutations derives from the purpose of the arguments in Γ, namely: to guide participants in real dialectical debates against any kind of opponent who denies either the principle of non-contradiction or the principle of the excluded middle.

The paper is structured into three sections, each corresponding to a key premise supporting this interpretation. First, I will examine the evidence for the existence of institutionalised dialectical debates in fifth- and fourth-century BCE Athens, along with collections of arguments prepared for such occasions. Second, I will analyse the dialogical configuration of Metaphysics Γ 4-8, which presupposes a real dialogue with an interlocutor, without whom the argumentation cannot proceed. Third and final, I will consider the adoption of specific conventions of dialectical discussions in these chapters.

This work/event is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UID/00310, Centro de Filosofia da Universidade de Lisboa