Page - 35 - in The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics

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