This volume of essays explores major connected themes in Aristotle's metaphysics, philosophy of nature, and ethics, especially themes related to essence, definition, teleology, activity, potentiality, and the highest good. The volume is united by the belief that all aspects of Aristotle's work need to be studied together if any one of the areas of thought is to be fully understood. Many of the papers were contributions to a conference at the University of Pittsburgh entitled 'Being, Nature, and Life in Aristotle', to honor Professor Allan Gotthelf's many contributions to the field of ancient philosophy; a few are contributions from those who were invited but could not attend. The contributors, all longstanding friends of Professor Gotthelf, are among the most accomplished scholars in the field of ancient philosophy today.

'This outstanding collection of ten essays pays handsome tribute to Allan Gotthelf for his many years at the center of scholarship on Aristotelian philosophy of biology and science.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Robert Bolton is Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University. He is author or editor of numerous books and articles on topics in ancient philosophy, particularly those concerning questions in epistemology and philosophy of mind, and those concerning philosophical and scientific methods and their applications, in natural science, metaphysics and ethics. James G. Lennox is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published many articles in professional journals and edited volumes, and his most recent books are Aristotle: On the Parts of Animals (translation with introduction and commentary, 2001), and Aristotle's Philosophy of Biology: Studies in the Origins of Life Science (Cambridge, 2001).