Reconstructing Aristotle's philosophy of 'qua'

forthcoming

"Despite the centrality of the term 'qua' in Aristotle’s philosophy – from the definition of ontology to his philosophy of mathematics – a comprehensive analysis of its role throughout the Aristotelian corpus remains absent in both European and global scholarship. The QUA Project addresses this critical gap by proposing a framework for a consistent understanding of the role of 'qua' in Aristotle’s philosophy. Unlike previous studies that have focused on the scientific uses of 'qua', where it contributes to defining specific sciences, QUA shifts the perspective to Aristotle’s Organon. Using a methodology that integrates philology, ancient Greek philosophy, and debates in contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of mathematics, QUA begins by reconstructing Aristotle’s theory of qualifications in the ""Sophistical Refutations"". It then demonstrates how the ""Analytics"" identifies 'qua' as a qualification of respect that specifies the category of predication. Finally, the project tests this framework by extending it beyond the Organon to address unresolved questions about the scientific uses of 'qua'. Supervised by leading Aristotelian scholars, Pierre-Marie Morel at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Rachel Barney at the University of Toronto during a secondment, the project benefits from their expertise and the support of their research units, GRAMATA and CSAMP. This international collaboration will significantly enhance the researcher’s academic profile, increase visibility, prepare future research projects, and improve competitiveness in the global job market. Furthermore, the outreach plan of the project addresses the construction of stereotypes and the potential of social critique inherent in 'qua predications' to foster a broader societal impact, extending the research’s relevance beyond academic philosophy."