Allan Gotthelf
contemporaryAristotelian Philosophy, History of Ancient Philosophy1942 – 2013
Allan Gotthelf (1942–2013) was an American philosopher specializing in Aristotle's philosophy of biology and the metaphysics of teleology. He was a leading figure in the revival of serious scholarly attention to Aristotle's biological works, arguing that they are philosophically foundational rather than merely empirical. He also contributed to the philosophy of Ayn Rand's Objectivism, co-founding the Ayn Rand Society.
Notable Achievements
1
Pioneered philosophical analysis of Aristotle's biological writings as central to his metaphysics
2
Developed the concept of 'irreducible teleology' in Aristotle, linking form to conditional necessity
3
Edited and co-edited landmark volumes including 'Philosophical Issues in Aristotle's Biology' (1987)
4
Authored 'Teleology, First Principles, and Scientific Method in Aristotle's Biology' (2012)
5
Co-founded the Ayn Rand Society within the American Philosophical Association