Philoponus: On Aristotle On Coming-to-Be and Perishing 1.1-5

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The first five chapters of Aristotles 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. Aristotles 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 Aristotles 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.

Author Bio

The late C.J.F Williams was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol, UK. Dr Sylvia Berryman is Research Fellow in Philosophy at Kings College London, UK.