Book 3 of Aristotle's Physics primarily concerns two important
concepts for his theory of nature: change and infinity. Change is
important because, in Book 2, he has defined nature - the
subject-matter of the Physics - as an internal source of change. Much
of his discussion is dedicated to showing that the change occurs in
the patient which undergoes it, not in the agent which causes it. Thus
Book 3 is an important step in clearing the way for Book 8's claims
for a divine mover who causes change but in whom no change occurs. The
second half of Book 3 introduces Aristotle's doctrine of infinity as
something which is always potential, never actual, never traversed and
never multiplied. Here, as elsewhere, Philoponus the Christian turns
Aristotle's own infinity arguments against the pagan Neoplatonist
belief in a beginningless universe. Such a universe, Philoponus
replies, would involve actual infinity of past years already
traversed, and a multiple number of past days. The commentary also
contains intimations of the doctrine of impetus - which has been
regarded, in its medieval context, as a scientific revolution - as
well as striking examples of Philoponus' use of thought experiments to
establish philosophical and broadly scientific conclusions.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781780934358
Publisert
2020
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Bloomsbury Academic
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter