Textual Misplacement in Aristotle’s Metaphysics 12

Aristotle discusses intellect in Metaph. 12.9. This chapter, however, seems incomplete, because a question posed in it (1074b36–8) remains unaddressed. Another passage (1072b14–30) in Metaph. 12.7 seems to address a similar topic, yet appears extraneous to its present chapter. This article argues that the placing of the aforementioned passage within Metaph. 12.7 is incorrect, and that its original position is actually at the end of Metaph. 12.9. This alternative reading offers a better understanding of 1072b14–30, and has the potential to finalize the unfinished discussion in Metaph. 12.9.