ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Aristotle's formal definition of the psyche, which he carries out in terms of his metaphysical concepts but which when unpacked yields a fairly clear conception of his general psychological approach. It explores his transactional schema for analyzing functions of the psyche; this is set against the background of the conflicts in Greek theories of psychology and the opposing principles that had been generated. The chapter also examines the way that Aristotle handles the physical materials. The psyche is a substance in the sense that it is the form of a natural body that potentially has life. The special way in which the functions of the psyche are analyzed must of course be seen against the general background provided by the four causes. The chapter shows how Aristotle's philosophical method in psychology makes possible an integrated approach to man and his powers.
