Page - 32 - in The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics
Image of the Page - 32 -
Text of the Page - 32 -
traced back to an ultimate source of change that is (at least partly) responsi-
ble for any occurrence of each of these changes and furthermore that any
subject undergoing a change as a part of the cosmos is embedded into a lar-
ger framework of manifold causal relations.62 This means Aristotle spells
out what principles must underlie the assumption that there are things that
change in different ways, but are also capable of being at rest—something
we experience every day.63 He holds the view that both change and rest are
basic constituents of our world and are accepted unquestioningly by every
student of nature.64 Therefore, I conclude that Phys. VIII is not primarily
about proving the existence of a first unmoved mover, or even god,
although it is sometimes read this way, but only shows the necessary exis-
tence of this entity for the sake of presenting a causal account of change in
the cosmos.65
At the beginning of Phys. VIII Aristotle emphasizes that the assumption
underlying all natural philosophy is the undeniable fact that change exists.66
Starting from this assumption Aristotle in the first chapter of Physics VIII
presents various arguments to show that change (κίνησις) must have
always existed, and did not come to be or cease to exist at some point in
time, as some of his predecessors claim. Change in fact needs to be eternal
and imperishable.67 In the course of this discussion, in Phys. VIII 2, three
problems concerning the claim about the eternity of change are raised,
although not all of them are solved, a fact that will be of importance later
on.68
After having argued for the eternal existence of change in the first two
chapters of Book VIII, Aristotle discusses what this implies for the way
62 Therefore, I think that von Arnim (1931), 52, is correct in holding the view that Phys.
VIII is supposed to show “die kausale Einbezogenheit der Selbstbewegung der Lebewesen in
die kosmische Bewegungskausalkette”.
63 See Phys. VIII 3, 253a23–b2. There Aristotle states among other things that the
assumption that there is no change is absurd and contrary to all basic experience (253a32–
b2). Later on in Phys. VIII 3, 254a27–30, he also presents an argument showing that everyone,
even those who reject this claim, in fact implicitly presupposes that there is change.
64 See previous footnote and Phys. VIII 3, 253b2–6 as well as 254a35–b4.
65 Thus, I do not agree with Solmsen (1961), 270, who takes it that “Aristotle’s objective
in this Book is to establish the existence of the Unmoved Mover, his God, who is the cause
and fountainhead of all movements in the Cosmos.” Yet, I agree with both Lang (1981), 328,
and Flashar (2004), 263, who both state that Phys. VIII does not aim at showing the existence
of a first unmoved mover, but only proves its existence insofar as this is able to account for
the existence of change in the cosmos.
66 See n.63 and 64 of this chapter.
67 See the conclusion at the end of the first chapter: ὅτι μὲν οὖν οὐδεὶς ἦν χρόνος οὐδ᾽
ἔσται ὅτε κίνησις οὐκ ἦν ἤ οὐκ ἔσται, εἰρήσθω τοσαῦτα. Phys. VIII 1, 252b5–6.
68 See Phys. VIII 2, 252b9–28.
32 The importance of the primary kind of change
ISBN Print: 9783525253069 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647253060
© 2014, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen
The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics
- Title
- The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics
- Author
- Sebastian Odzuck
- Editor
- Dorothea Frede
- Gisela Striker
- Publisher
- Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co
- Date
- 2014
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
- ISBN
- 9783647253060
- Size
- 15.5 x 23.2 cm
- Pages
- 238
- Categories
- Geisteswissenschaften
- Naturwissenschaften Physik
Table of contents
- 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