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Nevertheless, more will be clear about these matters, for those who make
another start. For it must be examined [1] whether it is possible that
there is a change which is continuous or not, and, [2] if it is possible,
which one this is, and [3] which is primary among the changes. For it is
clear that if indeed there always must be change, and this change must be
primary and continuous, then the first mover causes this change, which
must be one and the same and continuous and primary.
With these remarks, Aristotle sets out the task of the following chapters: we
have to examine (σκεπτέον) the three stated questions in order to gain a
better understanding of “these matters”.
But why should these questions be asked, and in what way could they be
of interest to us? Aristotle does not really explain this here. Nor do the lines
following these questions make things much clearer; they only indicate that
the treatment of these questions stands in a close relation to what was dis-
cussed in the previous chapters, namely, his claims that change needs to be
eternal, and that there must be a first unmoved mover which is the cause of
all change. The “matters” which are supposed to become clearer by examin-
ing the questions, therefore, would seem to be certain parts of this theory
that were discussed in the preceding chapters.
Yet, against the background of Phys. VIII 1–6, one is puzzled even more
about Aristotle’s statement what has to be done next, because it seems that
Aristotle’s inquiry came to an end in VIII 6. After all, he claims there that
the goal he set in VIII 3 has been reached, since by developing the theory of
the first unmoved mover it was shown that the second of the two stated
options must be true, that is, there are three different kinds of things: things
that are always undergoing change, others that are always at rest, and still
others that are sometimes changing and sometimes at rest.78
But despite this claim, Aristotle does not end his examination at all, but
continues, as some matters that were treated before now obviously need to
be made clearer by taking another starting point (ἀλλὴ ἀρχή). This start
seems to be made by raising and then answering the three stated questions
that have to be examined, and in Phys. VIII 7–9, indeed, all three of them
are addressed. The questions are:
1. Is it possible that there is a continuous change? (260a21–22)
2. If there is a continuous type of change, which type is it? (260a22–23)
3. Which is the primary kind of change? (260a23–24)
78 See Phys. VIII 3, 254b4–6, and the concluding remarks of VIII 6, 260a11–19, which
make clear that Aristotle thinks he has fulfilled the task set out in VIII 3.
Physics VIII 35
ISBN Print: 9783525253069 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647253060
© 2014, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen
The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics
- Titel
- The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics
- Autor
- Sebastian Odzuck
- Herausgeber
- Dorothea Frede
- Gisela Striker
- Verlag
- Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co
- Datum
- 2014
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
- ISBN
- 9783647253060
- Abmessungen
- 15.5 x 23.2 cm
- Seiten
- 238
- Kategorien
- Geisteswissenschaften
- Naturwissenschaften Physik
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Acknowledgements 9
- 1. Introduction 10
- 2. The importance of the primary kind of change 14
- 3. Change in quality and quantity of living beings depends on loco-motion, but not vice versa 42
- 4. Locomotion necessarily accompanies each of the other kinds of change, but not vice versa 71
- 4.1 Overview 71
- 4.2 What changes in quantity changes with respect to place 73
- 4.3 What undergoes generation or corruption changes with respect to place 89
- 4.4 What changes in quality changes with respect to place 98
- 4.4.1 Overview 98
- 4.4.2 What does it mean that condensation and rarefaction are principles of quality? 100
- 4.4.3 Every alteration involves a change in the four basic qualities 104
- 4.4.4 Every change in the four basic qualities involves con- densation or rarefaction 108
- 4.4.5 Condensation and rarefaction are forms of aggregation and segregation 110
- 4.4.6 What changes in quality changes with respect to place 112
- 4.4.7 Conclusion 113
- 4.5 Conclusion 113
- 5. All changes depend on the first locomotion, but not vice versa 115
- 6. Locomotion has temporal priority 144
- 6.1 Overview 144
- 6.2 Locomotion has priority in time, since it is the only change eternals can undergo 146
- 6.3 Objection: Locomotion is the last of all changes in perishable things 148
- 6.4 Coming to be presupposes an earlier locomotion 150
- 6.5 The locomotion of the sun as a cause of generation 154
- 6.6 Conclusion 162
- 7. Locomotion is prior in essence 164
- 7.1 Locomotion is prior in essence, since it is last in coming to be 164
- 7.2 Locomotion alone preserves its subject’s essence 186
- 7.2.1 Overview 186
- 7.2.2 Locomotion does not change its subject’s being 188
- 7.2.3 Locomotion preserves its subject’s essence best 190
- 7.2.4 Making x depart from its essence by being part of a change in essence? 195
- 7.2.5 Change in quality or quantity in principle may result in a change in essence 202
- 7.3 Conclusion: Locomotion’s priority in essence 207
- 8. Conclusion 211
- Bibliography 220
- List of Abbreviations 223
- Index Locorum 221
- Index Nominum 223
- Index Rerum 221