Page - 44 - in The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics

argument is necessary. I will proceed in the following way: I will start by examining the first of the two premises on which the argument is based, namely that change in quantity, i.e. growth and diminution, presupposes a preceding alteration (3.2). Then I will deal with the second premise, which is that alteration cannot occur without a preceding locomotion (3.3). After that I will show that the argument, contrary to what one might expect, does not show locomotion’s general priority over any kind of change in magni- tude, but only with respect to growth and diminution as they occur in living beings and for which they are responsible insofar as they have a soul. I will argue that the argument, nonetheless, not only makes clear that locomotion must be prior to the changes in quality or quantity to which living beings are subject in the stated sense, but also with respect to all other changes that are caused by a living being (3.4). Next I will show that Aristotle has very good reasons to focus on changes that are caused by living beings (3.5). For, by doing so he rejects a possible objection against the priority claim, since the argument he presents makes clear that change in place—in the sense relevant for this argument—has ontological priority over change in quality and quantity in living beings, although there seem to be reasons to think differently (3.6). My last step will be to summarize the results of this chapter (3.7). 3.2 Growth and diminution presuppose alteration The passage cited above begins by introducing the claim that the argument is supposed to establish. Of the three kinds of non-substantial change that exist, that is, of “that with respect to magnitude, that with respect to quality, and that with respect to place, which we call locomotion, this [last] one must be primary.”1 The first argument that Aristotle makes in order to justify the claim (γάρ) that locomotion is prior to change in quantity and quality is that there can be no growth (αὔξησις) without a preceding alteration (ἀλλοίω- σις).2 By ‘growth’ Aristotle is obviously referring here to change in magni- tude, i.e. growth and diminution, in general. This is clear because the argu- ment for which this statement serves as one of the premises is supposed to show that locomotion (φορά) is prior to change in magnitude (κατὰ 1 τριῶν δ᾽ οὐσῶν κινήσεων, τῆς τε κατὰ μέγεθος καὶ τῆς κατὰ πάθος καὶ τῆς κατὰ τόπον, ἥν καλοῦμεν φοράν, ταύτην ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι πρώτην. Phys. VIII 7, 260a26–29. 2 ἀδύνατον γὰρ αὔξησιν εἶναι ἀλλοιώσεως μὴ προϋπαρχούσης, Phys. VIII 7, 260a29–30: “For it is impossible that there is growth without a preceding alteration.” 44 Change in quality and quantity of living beings ISBN Print: 9783525253069 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647253060 © 2014, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen