Aristotle's Theory of Material Substance
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Aristotle's Theory of Material Substance by Gad Freudenthal
This book offers an original account of one of Aristotle's central doctrines, his theory of material substance. Gad Freudenthal argues that Aristotle's concept of heat is a crucial but hitherto ignored part of this account. Aristotle's `canonical', four-element theory of matter fails to explain the coming-to-be of material substances (the way matter becomes organised) and their persistence (why substances do not disintegrate into their components). Interpreters have highlighted Aristotle's claim that soul is the active cause of the coming-to-be and persistence of living beings. Dr Freudenthal draws on dispersed remarks in Aristotle's writings, to argue that Aristotle in parallel also draws on a comprehensive `naturalistic' theory, which accounts for material persistence through the concepts of heat, specifically vital heat, and connate pneuma. This theory, which bears also on the higher soul-functions, is central in Aristotle's understanding of the relationship between matter and form, body and soul. Dr Freudenthal aims not only to recover this theory and to highlight its explanatory roles, but also to make suggestions concerning its origin in Presocratic thought and in Aristotle's own early theology. He further offers a brief review of how later ages came to grips with the difficulties inherent in the received version of Aristotle's matter theory. This book is an important contribution to the proper understanding of a central Aristotelian doctrine, which straddles `chemistry', biology, the theory of soul, and metaphysics.
the whole book deals in clear and sprightly fashion with a number of important ideas and problems in Aristotelianism that will be unfamiliar to many historians of science* George Molland, British Journal for the History of Science *
This bold and vigorous study contributes greatly to the growing body of work on the essential connections between Aristotle's biology and central issues in his metaphysics and psychology ... Comprehensive and lucidly argued, this book is strongly recommended for all university and college libraries. * Choice *
The book offers a new and refreshing description of Aristotle's system and demonstrates that without understanding the basics of Aristotle's biology, his conception of the structure of the physical world cannot be fully understood. The book is carefully and thoughtfully out lined and very well written. For quite a while I have not read a book that contributed so much to my understanding of Aristotle. * Ruth Glasner, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Early Science and Medicine 2.1, 1997 *
Those with an interest in the mechanics of Aristotle's biology will find a wealth of information, much of it fascinating in its own way and all of it clearly and accurately presented. * Christopher Shields, The Philosophical Review, Vol.106 No.4 *
Freudenthal's work is sophisticated and highly technical. It will be of use to the serious student of Aristotelian hylo-morphism, as well as to the historian of science. * Religious Studies Review *
This bold and vigorous study contributes greatly to the growing body of work on the essential connections between Aristotle's biology and central issues in his metaphysics and psychology ... Comprehensive and lucidly argued, this book is strongly recommended for all university and college libraries. * Choice *
The book offers a new and refreshing description of Aristotle's system and demonstrates that without understanding the basics of Aristotle's biology, his conception of the structure of the physical world cannot be fully understood. The book is carefully and thoughtfully out lined and very well written. For quite a while I have not read a book that contributed so much to my understanding of Aristotle. * Ruth Glasner, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Early Science and Medicine 2.1, 1997 *
Those with an interest in the mechanics of Aristotle's biology will find a wealth of information, much of it fascinating in its own way and all of it clearly and accurately presented. * Christopher Shields, The Philosophical Review, Vol.106 No.4 *
Freudenthal's work is sophisticated and highly technical. It will be of use to the serious student of Aristotelian hylo-morphism, as well as to the historian of science. * Religious Studies Review *
Resianne Fontaine is University Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Her field of research is Jewish philosophy and the history of science in the Middle Ages. She has published Samuel ibn Tibbon's Hebrew version of Aristotle's Meteorology (,1995) and co-edited the volume Studies in the History of Culture and Science. A tribute to Gad Freudenthal, ed. with R. Glasner, R. Leicht and G. Veltri (Leiden, 2011)
Gad Freudenthal is Senior Research Fellow Emeritus with the CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) in Paris, and Professor at the University of Geneva. He has written on the history of science in Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, especially in Jewish cultures. His last edited volume is Science in Medieval Jewish Cultures (Cambridge, 2011). He also is the editor of Aleph: Historical Studies in Science and Judaism.
Gad Freudenthal is Senior Research Fellow Emeritus with the CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) in Paris, and Professor at the University of Geneva. He has written on the history of science in Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, especially in Jewish cultures. His last edited volume is Science in Medieval Jewish Cultures (Cambridge, 2011). He also is the editor of Aleph: Historical Studies in Science and Judaism.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198240938 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198240937 |
| Title | Aristotle's Theory of Material Substance |
| Author | Gad Freudenthal |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 1995-08-10 |
| Number of pages | 248 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |