Movement of Animals
The treatise seeks principles shared by animal locomotion, from bodily support to the role of desire. It connects joints, the representation of a goal and the initiation of action.
Understanding the text
This short investigation links bodily mechanics and psychology; it is distinct from Progression of Animals.
Key points
- 01
Support
Local movement requires relatively stationary points from which the limbs can act.
- 02
Desire and thought
An animal moves toward something perceived or imagined as desirable; cognition does not operate independently of motivation.
- 03
Action
Examples conventionally called practical syllogisms show how judgment and desire can culminate in a bodily action.
How to read it
Trace a simple action, such as drinking, from its desired object to the bodily conditions needed to perform it.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1classics.mit.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 2plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 3classics.mit.edunew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗