Aristotle's _Physics _Book 3 covers two subjects: the definition of
change and the finitude of the universe. Change enters into the very
definition of nature as an internal source of change. Change receives
two definitions in chapters 1 and 2, as involving the actualisation of
the potential or of the changeable. Alexander of Aphrodisias is
reported as thinking that the second version is designed to show that
Book 3, like Book 5, means to disqualify change in relations from
being genuine change. Aristotle's successor Theophrastus, we are told,
and Simplicius himself, prefer to admit relational change. Chapter 3
introduces a general causal principle that the activity of the agent
causing change is in the patient undergoing change, and that the
causing and undergoing are to be counted as only one activity, however
different in definition. Simplicius points out that this paves the way
for Aristotle's God who moves the heavens, while admitting no motion
in himself. It is also the basis of Aristotle's doctrine, central to
Neoplatonism, that intellect is one with the objects it
contemplates.In defending Aristotle's claim that the universe is
spatially finite, Simplicius has to meet Archytas' question, "What
happens at the edge?". He replies that, given Aristotle's definition
of place, there is nothing, rather than an empty place, beyond the
furthest stars, and one cannot stretch one's hand into nothing, nor be
prevented by nothing. But why is Aristotle's beginningless universe
not temporally infinite? Simplicius answers that the past years no
longer exist, so one never has an infinite collection.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781780939001
Publisert
2020
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Bloomsbury UK
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter