Philoponus On Aristotle On coming-to-be and perishing 1.1-5 translated by C.J.F. Williams ; introduction by Sylvia Berryman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Philoponus, John, active 6th century, author.

Contributor:

Williams, C. J. F. (Christopher John Fardo), editor.

Series:

Ancient commentators on Aristotle

[The Ancient commentators on Aristotle]

Standardized Title:

In Aristotelis libros De generatione et corruptione commentaria. 1.1-5. English

Language:

English

Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Subjects (All):

Aristotle. De generatione et corruptione.

Aristotle.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 195 pages).

Other Title:

On Aristotle On coming-to-be and perishing 1.1-5

On coming-to-be and perishing 1.1-5

Place of Publication:

London Duckworth 1999.

Summary:

The first five chapters of Aristotle's De Generatione et Corruptione distinguish creation and destruction from mere qualitative change and from growth. They include a fascinating debate about the atomists' analysis of creation and destruction as due to the rearrangement of indivisible atoms. Aristotle's rival belief in the infinite divisibility of matter is explained and defended against the atomists' powerful attack on infinite divisibility. But what inspired Philoponus most in his commentary is the topic of organic growth. How does it take place without ingested matter getting into the same place as the growing body? And how is personal identity preserved, if our matter is always in flux, and our form depends on our matter? If we do not depend on the persistence of matter why are we not immortal? Analogous problems of identity arise also for inanimate beings. Philoponus draws out a brief remark of Aristotle's to show that cause need not be like effect. For example, what makes something hard may be cold, not hard. This goes against a persistent philosophical prejudice, but Philoponus makes it plausible that Aristotle recognized this truth. These topics of identity over time and the principles of causation are still matters of intense discussion.

Contents:

Preface

Introduction

Textual Emendations

TRANSLATION

Notes

Bibliography English-Greek

Glossary Greek-English Index

Index of Passages Cited

Subject

Index

Notes:

Series statement from jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages [159]-182) and indexes

Electronic reproduction. London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014. Available via World Wide Web. Access limited by licensing agreement

Other Format:

Original

ISBN:

9781472551894

OCLC:

855709488