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The Aristotle Corpus and How to Cite it

Monte Ransome Johnson
University 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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Abbreviation of the work, in cursive: e.g., EN for the Nicomachean Ethics.

Book number: e.g., EN 2 for Book 2. (Note: exclude for single book works.)
Number of chapter after a period: e.g., EN 2.1, for Nicomachean Ethics, Book 2, chapter 1.
Bekker page, and column, after a comma: e.g., EN 2.1, 1103a for column a on p. 1103.
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 numbersdo not estimate line numbers.)
The translators 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

On Interpretation

Int.

I / 16-24

peri\ e(rmhnei/aj De interpretatione

a)nalutika\ pro/tera
70

Analytica priora

a)nalutika\ u(/stera
100

Analytica posteriora Posterior Analytics

topika/

Topica

Topics

Prior Analytics

Top.

APr.

II / 24-

APo.

II / 71-

VIII / 100-164

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peri\ sofistikw=n Elenchi sophistici
e)le/xwn

On Sophistical
Refutations

SE

I / 164-184

3
Here begin the works on theoretical philosophy:

Greek Title

Latin Title

fusikh\ a)kro/asij Physica

peri\ ou)ranou=
268-313

English Title

Abbr. Books/Pages

Physics

Ph.

De caelo

On the Heavens

VIII / 184-267
Cael. IV /

peri\ gene/sewj
kai\ fqoraj

De generatione
et corruptione

On Generation
and Destruction

GC

metewrologika/

Meteorologica

Meteorology

Mete. IV / 338-390

II / 314-338

peri\ ko/smou
401

De mundo

**On the Cosmos

Mu.

peri\ yuxh=j
402-435

De anima

On the Soul

de An. III /

I / 391-

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

Greek Title

Latin Title

peri\ ai)sqh/sewj De sensu et

kai\ ai)sqhtw=n sensibilibus
peri\ mnh/mhj kai\
453
a)namnh/sewj

English Title

Abbr. Books/Pages

On Sense and
Sensibilia

Sens. I / 436-449

De memoria et

On Memory and

reminiscentia

Recollection

Mem. I / 449-

peri\ u(/pnou kai\ De somno et vigilia

e)grhgo/rsewj

On Sleep and Wake

Somn. I / 453-458

peri\ e)nupni/wn De insomniis

On Dreams

Insomn. I/ 458-462

peri\ th=j kaq u(/pnon De divinatione

462-4
mantikh=j
per somnium
peri\ makrobio/thtoj De longitudine
kai\ braxubio/thtoj
et brevitate
peri\ neo/thtoj kai\
470
gh/rwj. peri\ zwh=j
kai\ qana/tou

On Prophesy in Sleep Div. Somn. I /

On Length and
Long. I / 464-467
Shortness of Life

De juventute et

On Youth and Old

senectute. De vita
et morte

Age. On Life and

Death

Juv.

I / 467-

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
peri\ ta\ zw=a
486-638
i(stori/ai

Latin Title

English Title

History of Animals

HA

X/

peri\ zw/wn mori/wn

De partibus
639-697
animalium

Parts of Animals

PA

IV /

peri\ zw/wn
704
kinh/sewj

Motion of Animals

MA

I / 697-

peri\ zw/wn
porei/aj
peri\ zw/wn
715-789
gene/sewj

Historia animalium

Abbr. Books/Pages

De motu animalium

De incessu
animalium

Progression of
Animals

De generatione
animalium

IA

Generation of

I / 704-714
GA

V/

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
830

De plantis

**On Plants

Plant. I / 815-

peri\ qaumasi/wn De mirabilibus

**On Marvellous
Mir.
a)kousma/twn
auscultationibus
Things Heard
mexanika/

Mechanica

*Mechanics

Mech. I / 847-858

problh/mata
859-967

Problemata

*Problems

peri\ a)to/mwn
972
grammw=n

De lineis

**On Indivisible

insecabilibus

Lines

I / 830-847

Prob. XXXVIII /
LI

I / 968-

a)ne/mwn qe/sij Ventorum situs**Situations

Vent.
kai\ proshgori/ai
of the Winds
peri\ Meli/ssou, De Melisso,
peri\ Cenofa/nouj,
Xenophane,
peri\ Gorgi/ou
Gorgia

I / 973

**On Melissus,
MXG I / 974-980
On Xenophanes,
On Gorgias

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

Greek Title

Latin Title

ta\ meta\ ta\ fusika/

980-1093

English Title

Metaphysica

Abbr. Books/Pages

Metaphysics

Metaph. XIV /

Here begin the works on practical philosophy:

Greek Title

Latin Title

English Title

Abbr. Books/Pages

h)qika\ Nikoma/xeia
1094-1181

Ethica Nicomachea

Nicomachean Ethics EN

X/

h)qika mega/la
1181-1213

Magna Moralia

*Great Ethics

II /

h)qika\ Eu)dh/meia
1214-1249

Ethica Eudemeia

Eudemian Ethics

peri\ a)retw=n
1249-1251
kai\ kakiw=n

De virtutibus et vitiis **On Virtues and

politika/
oi)konomika/
1343-1353

MM

EE VIII /
VV

I/

Vices
Politica
Oeconomica

Politics

Pol. VIII / 1252-1342

Economics

Oec.

III /

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.

r(htorikh\ pro\j
A)le/candron

**Rhetoric to
Alexander

Rh. Al. I / 1420-1447

Rhetorica ad
Alexandrum

III / 1354-1420

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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 Bekkers edition),
nor any of Aristotles poems or fragments of Aristotles 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.