Author Description
Space, Time, Matter, and Form collects ten of David Bostock's essays on themes from Aristotle's Physics, four of them published here for the first time. The first five papers look at issues raised in the first two books of the Physics, centred on notions of matter and form, and the idea of substance as what persists through change. They also range over other of Aristotle's scientific works, such as his biology and psychology and the account of change in his De Generatione et Corruptione. The volume's remaining essays examine themes in later books of the Physics, including infinity, place, time, and continuity. Bostock argues that Aristotle's views on these topics are of real interest in their own right, independent of his notions of substance, form, and matter; they also raise some pressing problems of interpretation, which these essays seek to resolve.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates how Aristotle's physical theories regarding space, time, matter, and form function both as independent philosophical inquiries and as foundational components of his broader metaphysical system. David Bostock, a scholar of ancient philosophy, utilizes a rigorous analytical approach to examine specific texts from the Physics, De Generatione et Corruptione, and Aristotle's biological works. The essays aim to resolve long-standing interpretive problems by evaluating the logical consistency and scientific relevance of Aristotelian concepts within their historical context.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of Aristotle's concepts of matter, form, and substance as presented in the early books of the Physics.
- Examination of infinity, place, time, and continuity in the later books of the Physics.
- Comparative study of Aristotle's scientific methodology across his biological and psychological treatises.
Scope Limits
- The volume does not provide a comprehensive commentary on the entirety of the Physics.
- The text assumes a baseline familiarity with Aristotelian terminology and classical Greek philosophy.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of ancient philosophy frequently cite this collection for its precise, technical engagement with Aristotle's physical arguments. Experts highlight the work as a valuable resource for those seeking to reconcile Aristotle's scientific observations with his metaphysical framework.
Page Count:
208
Publication Date:
2006-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191536849
ISBN-13:
9780191536847
Philosophy
History & Surveys
Physics
Metaphysics
Academic
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