THE SNUBNESS-STRUCTURE AND THE INEXTRICABLE SOUL-BODY RELATIONSHIP

Abstract

This paper is conceived in the footsteps of The Undivided Self: Aristotle and the ‘Mind-Body Problem’ by David Charles, OUP 2021. It examines the intricate relationship between mind and body through the lens of Aristotle’s ‘Snubness-structure’ (‘S-structure’) according to David Charles’s interpretation in The Undivided Self. I explore how this conceptual framework, exemplified by the distinction between nasal concavity and geometric concavity, provides a comprehensive approach to understanding the inseparability of form and matter in natural phenomena. The study extends this analysis to various psychological faculties, including perception (aisthēsis), desire (epithymia), thought (nous) and emotions (pathē). By investigating the application of the S-structure across these domains, I aim to elucidate Aristotle’s nuanced view of the mind-body relationship, challenging both reductionist and dualist interpretations. This research contributes to ongoing debates in philosophy of mind, offering insights into how ancient philosophical concepts can inform contemporary discussions on the nature of consciousness and embodied cognition.