Medicine and philosophy - Classical Homeopathy Online

Aristotle on sleep and dreams 187Before considering the difficulties that arise here, let us first considerAristotle’s methodology in this short work. Basically, Aristotle tackles themysterious phenomenon in three ways:(i) by considering the causal relation between the dream in which a certainevent is foreseen, and the event that later actually happens(ii) by considering the kinds of events that can be foreseen in sleep(iii) by considering the kinds of people who have prophetic dreams.He does not explicitly present these research questions at the beginningof the treatise itself in the way he does in On Sleep and On Dreams,although questions (i) and (ii) are included in the summary of questionsat the beginning of On Sleep and Waking, where he says that he is going toconsider (453b 22–4)[We also need to examine] whether it is possible to foresee the future in sleepor not, and if it is possible, in what way; and whether [it is possible to foresee]only what will be done by human beings, or also things whose cause belongs tothe domain of what is beyond human control (to daimonion) 28 and which occurnaturally or spontaneously.In his discussion of these issues, he once again makes a number ofempirical claims:1. Some people foresee what will happen at the Pillars of Heracles or at theBorysthenes (462 b 24–6).2. When one is asleep, weak impulses appear stronger: weak sounds are perceivedas thunder, a tiny bit of phlegm is perceived as honey, local warmth bringsabout the illusion that one goes through a fire; only after awakening, onerecognises the real nature of these impulses (463 a 11–18).3. In sleep one often dreams of things one has experienced in the waking state(463 a 22–4).4. One often thinks of a person who shortly later appears (463 b 1–4).5. Not only man, but also some other animals dream (463 b 12; cf.Hist. an. 536b 27 ff. and 537 b 13).6. Garrulous people and melancholics often have clear and prophetic dreams (463b 17–22).7. Many dreams do not come true (463 b 22).8. Foresight of things happening beyond the dreamer’s control does not occurwith intelligent people, but with those of mediocre mental capacities (463 a19–20).28 For a discussion of this expression see van der Eijk (1994) 291–6.