亚里士多德论运动与现实的区分——以《形而上学》■6中的“观看”为例

Aristotle's Distinction Between Kinesis and Energeia:Taking“Seeing”in Metaphysics ■6 As an Example

在《形而上学》■6的1048b18-35中,亚里士多德区分了运动和现实,认为同一项活动不可能既是运动又是“严格意义的现实”。本文旨在阐明这一区分的内涵。通过考察“观看”这一典型例子,可以发现一项活动是运动还是“严格意义的现实”,取决于我们所采取的视角。从动力的角度来看,所有的现实都是运动;而从形式的角度来看,只有一些运动,因其在形式上具有完备性,而成为“严格意义的现实”。因此,“观看”以及其他许多类似的活动可以同时被称为运动和“严格意义的现实”。

In Metaphysics ■6,1048b18-35,Aristotle makes a distinction between kinesis and energeia in the strict sense,suggesting that these two concepts are mutually exclusive.The objective of this paper is to explain what this distinction amounts to,and,in particular,why Aristotle at times characterizes seeing as a kinesis,while,at other times,takes it to be an energeia in the strict sense.I will argue that,for Aristotle,whether an event is a kinesis or an energeia in the strict sense depends on the perspective we take.When viewed from the point of view of the efficient cause,all energeiai are kineseis;whereas when viewed from the point of view of the formal cause,only some kineseis-those that have completeness in respect of their forms-are energeiai in the strict sense.On this reading,characterizing a single event as both a kinesis and an energeia in the strict sense does not lead to a contradiction.