The Aristotle Corpus and How to Cite it

Monte Ransome JohnsonUniversity of California, San Diego

Version of 2012 August 27

In many contexts (especially discussion), simple reference to the work (e.g., “Nicomachean Ethics”), or work and book (“Nicomachean Ethics [book] two”), or work, book, and chapter will suffice (“Nicomachean Ethics [book] two, [chapter] one”). But when quoting or paraphrasing Aristotle in writing, you should provide, after the quote and in parentheses, as many of the following elements of a full reference as appropriate:

1. Abbreviation of the work, in cursive: e.g., EN for the Nicomachean Ethics.2. Book number: e.g., EN 2 for Book 2. (Note: exclude for single book works.)3. Number of chapter after a period: e.g., EN 2.1, for Nicomachean Ethics, Book 2, chapter 1.4. Bekker page, and column, after a comma: e.g., EN 2.1, 1103a for column a on p. 1103.5. Line numbers: e.g., EN 2.1, 1103a3-5 for lines 3-5 on that page. (Note: exclude if you are using a

translation and cannot determine the EXACT line numbers—do not “estimate” line numbers.)6. The translator’s last name, after a comma and the abbreviation “tr.”: (EN 2.1, 1103a3-5, tr. Crisp)

Here is a sample reference, and paraphrase, suitable for a student utilizing an English translation:

Aristotle says that virtue “is of two kinds: that of intellect, and that of character” (EN 2.1, 1103a, tr. Crisp).

Aristotle holds that there are two kinds of virtue, intellectual and moral (EN 2.1, 1103a).

Notice that in paraphrase the translator is omitted; only include the translator when you are directly quoting one or more words of the translation. At the end of your paper or essay, provide a complete citation of the work from which you quoted:

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, tr. R. Crisp. Cambridge, 2000.

The Corpus Aristotelicum: Titles, abbreviations, and pagination

The following six works are collectively referred to as The Organon (“Instrument”)

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

kathgori/ai Categoriae Categories Cat. I / 1-15

peri\ e(rmhnei/aj De interpretatione On Interpretation Int. I / 16-24

a)nalutika\ pro/tera Analytica priora Prior Analytics APr. II / 24-70

a)nalutika\ u(/stera Analytica posteriora Posterior Analytics APo. II / 71-100

topika/ Topica Topics Top. VIII / 100-164

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peri\ sofistikw=n Elenchi sophistici On Sophistical SE I / 164-184e)le/xwn Refutations

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Here begin the works on theoretical philosophy:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

fusikh\ a)kro/asij Physica Physics Ph. VIII / 184-267

peri\ ou)ranou= De caelo On the Heavens Cael. IV / 268-313

peri\ gene/sewj De generatione On Generation GC II / 314-338kai\ fqoraj et corruptione and Destruction

metewrologika/ Meteorologica Meteorology Mete. IV / 338-390

peri\ ko/smou De mundo **On the Cosmos Mu. I / 391-401

peri\ yuxh=j De anima On the Soul de An. III / 402-435

The following nine works are collectively referred to as the Parva Naturalia (“Small physical treatises”):

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

peri\ ai)sqh/sewj De sensu et On Sense and Sens. I / 436-449kai\ ai)sqhtw=n sensibilibus Sensibilia

peri\ mnh/mhj kai\ De memoria et On Memory and Mem. I / 449-453a)namnh/sewj reminiscentia Recollection

peri\ u(/pnou kai\ De somno et vigilia On Sleep and Wake Somn. I / 453-458e)grhgo/rsewj

peri\ e)nupni/wn De insomniis On Dreams Insomn. I/ 458-462

peri\ th=j kaq” u(/pnon De divinatione On Prophesy in Sleep Div. Somn. I / 462-4mantikh=j per somnium

peri\ makrobio/thtoj De longitudine On Length and Long. I / 464-467kai\ braxubio/thtoj et brevitate Shortness of Life

peri\ neo/thtoj kai\ De juventute et On Youth and Old Juv. I / 467-470gh/rwj. peri\ zwh=j senectute. De vita Age. On Life andkai\ qana/tou et morte Death

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peri\ a)napnoh=j De respiratione On Respiration Resp. I / 470-480

peri\ pneu/matoj De spiritu **On Breath Spir. I / 481-486

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Here begin the biological works:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

peri\ ta\ zw=a Historia animalium History of Animals HA X / 486-638i(stori/ai

peri\ zw/wn mori/wn De partibus Parts of Animals PA IV / 639-697

animalium

peri\ zw/wn De motu animalium Motion of Animals MA I / 697-704kinh/sewj

peri\ zw/wn De incessu Progression of IA I / 704-714porei/aj animalium Animals

peri\ zw/wn De generatione Generation of GA V / 715-789gene/sewj animalium Animals

The following ten works are dubious or spurious:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

peri\ xroma/twn De coloribus **On Colors Col. I / 791-799

peri\ a)koustw=n De audibilibus **On Things Heard Aud. I / 800-804

fusiognwmonika/ Physiognomia **Physiognomics Phgn. I / 805-814

peri\ futw=n De plantis **On Plants Plant. I / 815-830

peri\ qaumasi/wn De mirabilibus **On Marvellous Mir. I / 830-847a)kousma/twn auscultationibus Things Heard

mexanika/ Mechanica *Mechanics Mech. I / 847-858

problh/mata Problemata *Problems Prob. XXXVIII / 859-967

peri\ a)to/mwn De lineis **On Indivisible LI I / 968-972grammw=n insecabilibus Lines

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a)ne/mwn qe/sij Ventorum situs **Situations Vent. I / 973kai\ proshgori/ai of the Winds

peri\ Meli/ssou, De Melisso, **On Melissus, MXG I / 974-980peri\ Cenofa/nouj, Xenophane, On Xenophanes,peri\ Gorgi/ou Gorgia On Gorgias

Here is a work or group of works placed by its editors “after the works on nature”:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

ta\ meta\ ta\ fusika/ Metaphysica Metaphysics Metaph. XIV / 980-1093

Here begin the works on practical philosophy:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

h)qika\ Nikoma/xeia Ethica Nicomachea Nicomachean Ethics EN X /1094-1181

h)qika mega/la Magna Moralia *Great Ethics MM II / 1181-1213

h)qika\ Eu)dh/meia Ethica Eudemeia Eudemian Ethics EE VIII / 1214-1249

peri\ a)retw=n De virtutibus et vitiis **On Virtues and VV I / 1249-1251kai\ kakiw=n Vices

politika/ Politica Politics Pol. VIII / 1252-1342

oi)konomika/ Oeconomica Economics Oec. III / 1343-1353

Here begin the works on productive philosophy:

Greek Title Latin Title English Title Abbr. Books/Pages

te/xnh r(htorikh/ Ars Rhetorica Art of Rhetoric Rh. III / 1354-1420

r(htorikh\ pro\j Rhetorica ad **Rhetoric to Rh. Al. I / 1420-1447 A)le/candron Alexandrum Alexander

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peri\ poihtikh=j De Poetica Poetics Po. I / 1447-1462

These are all the works included in the edition of Bekker, and for which there is a medieval manuscript tradition of the text. Thus not included here is the work on the Constitution of the Athenians (which, though attributable to Aristotle, was discovered on a papyrus in 1879, after the publication of Bekker’s edition), nor any of Aristotle’s poems or fragments of Aristotle’s lost works.

Note:

* against the English title indicates that scholars are not agreed on the authenticity of the work; ** against the English title denotes that scholars agree on the inauthenticity of the work.

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