Striving and moving

Aristotle has a general theory of motivation designed for both humans and animals: the theory of animal locomotion. This book interprets the theory and analyzes its fundamental concepts. In the first part, which is conceptually analytical, Aristotle's definitions of pleasure and pain, striving, and the three types of striving are discussed. The second part follows with a coherent interpretation of the texts that are directly relevant to the theory. These include De Anima III, chapters 9 to 11, as well as the short treatise De Motu Animalium (chapters 6 to 11). As a result, it becomes clear that Aristotle's theory of motivation follows a unique approach that, although it is strongly based on the essentialist and hylomorphic assumptions of his philosophy of nature, offers interesting perspectives on the substantive issues and enriches the philosophical debate.