Aristotle Physics I 8

Phronesis 51 (4):330-361 (2006)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Aristotle's thesis in Physics I 8 is that a certain old and familiar problem about coming to be can only be solved with the help of the new account of the "principles" he has developed in Physics I 7. This is a strong thesis and the literature on the chapter does not quite do it justice; specifically, as things now stand we are left wondering why Aristotle should have found this problem so compelling in the first place. In this paper I develop an interpretation which will help to remedy this.I believe that Aristotle's problem about coming to be depends on a certain principle to the effect that "nothing can become what it already is" . The main innovation of the interpretation developed here is its suggestion that we understand this principle as a principle about kinds. So understood, the principle does not make the comparatively trivial point that nothing can become any individual it already is, but rather the more powerful and substantive point that nothing can become any kind of thing it already is. I argue that this is a point which Aristotle himself accepts and that this is why the problem about coming to be raises serious difficulties for him. I also discuss Aristotle's proposed solutions to this problem, explaining how each draws on his new account of the principles and why each is required for any full resolution of the difficulties the problem raises. In this way I hope to show how the interpretation developed here does justice to the very strong thesis with which Aristotle begins Physics I 8. I conclude brie fly and somewhat speculatively with a suggestion as to why Aristotle might accept the principle on which I have suggested the problem turns

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,388

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Aristotle Physics I 8.Sean Kelsey - 2006 - Phronesis 51 (4):330 - 361.
Aristotle and Cognitive Intentionality.Gregory Thomas Smith - 2002 - Dissertation, The Florida State University
Aristotle's Motivation for Matter.David Ebrey - 2007 - Dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles
Aristotle’s theory of language in the light of Phys. I.1.Pavol Labuda - 2018 - Aither. Journal for the Study of Greek and Latin Philosophical Traditions 10 (20/2018 - International Issue 5):66-77.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-12-01

Downloads
73 (#298,031)

6 months
9 (#328,796)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Sean Kelsey
University of Notre Dame

References found in this work

Substance and predication in Aristotle.Frank A. Lewis - 1991 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Aristotle’s Physics.W. D. Ross - 1936 - Philosophy 11 (43):352-354.
Aristotle's Physics.W. D. Ross - 1936 - Mind 45 (179):378-383.
Aristotle's System of the Physical World. A comparison with his predecessors.Friedrich Solmsen - 1960 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 153:283-285.
Aristotle's Two Systems.Cass Weller & Daniel W. Graham - 1991 - Philosophical Review 100 (2):324.

View all 13 references / Add more references