The history of species and biodiversity research is, however, poorly known, even though it helps us understand and evaluate our perceptions of nature and the relationship between humans and other species of animals that have emerged throughout history.
The goal of our project is to produce new understanding about the history of (Western) zoology. We conduct a multidisciplinary study of the starting points from which Aristotle, the founder of zoology, conducted empirical research, how he described animals and explained their behavior, and how his approach influenced later research traditions and understandings of animals. Zoological studies comprise no less than a quarter of Aristotle's output, but they have long been ignored as outdated in content. However, the recent reassessment of Aristotle's theory of science has also made the works relevant from a philosophical and scientific perspective.
The four-year project will result in a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of Aristotelian philosophy of science and its practice in zoology, including its practice at the Academy of Turku. We will produce a monograph on Aristotle's thought in Finnish, and write articles on the textual criticism of Aristotle's zoological works, Aristotle's concept of animals, and the critique of the Cartesian concept of animals by the Aristotelians of the Turku Academy in English. In addition, four of Aristotle's works, Historia animalium, De partibus animalium, De generatione animalium, and De incessu animalium, will be translated and explained in Finnish, as well as two dissertations written at the Academy of Turku De anima vivente brutorum (1704) and De anima bestiarum (1725) will be translated from Latin into Finnish.
We will organise three workshops, one in Athens, one in Tvärminne zoological station and one in Helsinki. Issues studied by the members of the project will be discussed in the workshops, including topics such as Aristotle's view of species diversity with its text critical problems, Aristotle's zoological legacy (history of species), and how knowledge about nature and animality is structured in Aristotle's works.