Toward a Dynamic Conception of ousia :: Aristotle Aristotelian Legacy

Toward a Dynamic Conception of ousiaThis paper is an initial attempt to develop a dynamic whim of organism which is not anarchic. It does this by returning to Aristotle in influence to begin the process of reinterpreting the meaning of ousia, the concept according to which western sandwich ontology has been determined. Such a reinterpretation opens up the possibility of understanding the dynamic character of ontological individualism and the principles according to which this identity is established. The development of the notions of energeia, dynamis and entelecheia in the essence books of Aristotles Metaphysics will be discussed in order to suggest that thither is a dynamic ontological framingwork at work in Aristotles later writing. This framework lends insight into the dynamic structure of being itself, a structure which does justice as much to the concern for doggedness through change as it does to the moment of difference. The name for this conceit of identity which aff irms both continuity and novelty is legacy. This paper attempts to apprehend the meaning of being as legacy.There is perhaps no idea in the write up of western ontology with a more powerful legacy than Aristotles conception of ousia. Traditionally construed, ousia stands for the primary, foundational principle of being. It can be said that ontology has historically been ousiology the look for ultimate foundations. In this quest for ultimates, the ousia names the absolute arche, the foundational principle that reigns everywhere and orders all being. The political t star of this formulation is intentional it is designed to frame the ontological question concerning the meaning of ousia in ethico-political terms. The impetus behind this strategy is to suggest that western ontology has been largely determined by an disdainful magnetic dip that seeks to establish a single ultimate principle in order to secure a firm and certain foundation. On the one hand, this sniffy tendency may be traced back to Aristotle, for ousia is precisely such a hegemonic principle on the other hand, Aristotle also suggests another conception of ousia, one that can be drawn upon in the attempt to resist this imperious tendency. In what follows, I trace both the authoritarian and this resistant conception ousia in Aristotle.Aristotles Authoritarian OntologyTo apply the political term authoritarian to an ontological account may at first seem to be a simple category mistake. However, this first impression fails to recognize that umteen of the terms that have come