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Work #269

Prior and Posterior Analytics

Aristotle
c. 350 BC (the core logical works of the Organon) · Classical Greek
Two-part systematic treatise on logic · Classical Greek philosophy / Aristotelian logic

The systematic theory of syllogism (Prior) and demonstrative science (Posterior) — Aristotle's major logical works at the heart of the Organon

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Prior and Posterior Analytics
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Finite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Finite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Total
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Cosmic-ordering
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Non-conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Prior and Posterior Analytics

The atemporal structure of logical demonstration; the temporal process of scientific inquiry.

Space

Prior and Posterior Analytics

Pre-modern Aristotelian-Ptolemaic spatial framework; the cognitive space of logical-scientific demonstration.

Matter

Prior and Posterior Analytics

Concrete particulars as the objects of demonstrative knowledge.

Observer

Prior and Posterior Analytics

The scientific knower as the rational demonstrator — plural, embodied, capable of demonstrative knowledge.

Energy

Prior and Posterior Analytics

Implicit in the natural-philosophical background.

Information

Prior and Posterior Analytics

Demonstrated scientific knowledge preserved through the deductive structure of demonstration.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Prior and Posterior Analytics

The Analytics' theory of demonstration has been sharply critiqued in modern philosophy of science (Hume on induction, Kant on the synthetic a priori, Popper's falsificationism, Quine's web of belief). Recent rehabilitations of Aristotelian science (Nussbaum, Lear, Charles) have engaged the Analytics constructively. The relation between the Prior and Posterior — formal logic vs philosophy of science — is itself a continuing interpretive theme.