The Relevance of Environmental Conditions as Causes for Animal Generation in Aristotle

In this chapter, I argue against the misreading of Aristotle’s explanations about the influence of external conditions on generation. I address the relationship between celestial movements and sublunary living beings, emphasizing the natural tendency to regularity in the generative processes. The sun’s yearly cycle produces seasons that affect life and the generative predisposition of animals. The moon’s monthly cycle has an even more direct impact on the readiness of females for pregnancy. In a restricted scope, local environmental conditions prove to affect animals’ tempers, as well as some generative outcomes. Sex determination holds a notorious relation to the winds, which drives me to emphasize the influence of immediate environmental conditions along procreation. This last issue can only be thoroughly explained if there is a revision of the male’s contribution to the embryo. Provided that the male transmits the sensitive soul, the material aspect of his seed should also be considered, since important features of an animal depend on it and are susceptible to being affected by climate immediate conditions. Throughout the chapter, I compare some Aristotelian thesis to the Hippocratic text Airs, Waters, Places, since Aristotle incorporates some of its main ideas into his own generative theory. This also shows that, according to the Aristotelian works, environmental conditions belong to the scientific realm., even if secondary compared to form. ©Routledge