Aristotle on Matter, Form, and Moving Causes: The Hylomorphic Theory of Substantial GenerationThis book examines an important area of Aristotle's philosophy: the generation of substances. While other changes presuppose the existence of a substance (Socrates grows taller), substantial generation results in something genuinely new that did not exist before (Socrates himself). The central argument of this book is that Aristotle defends a 'hylomorphic' model of substantial generation. In its most complete formulation, this model says that substantial generation involves three principles: (1) matter, which is the subject from which the change proceeds; (2) form, which is the end towards which the process advances; and (3) an efficient cause, which directs the process towards that form. By examining the development of this model across Aristotle's works, Devin Henry seeks to deepen our grasp on how the doctrine of hylomorphism - understood as a blueprint for thinking about the world - informs our understanding of the process by which new substances come into being. |
Contents
Preliminary Puzzles | 21 |
GC II 9 | 77 |
Part One | 105 |
Part Two | 130 |
The Efficient Cause of Animal Generation | 143 |
The Architectonic Model | 162 |
Generation | 196 |
| 222 | |
| 232 | |
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Aristotle on Matter, Form, and Moving Causes: The Hylomorphic Theory of ... Devin Henry No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
According acted active actually agent alteration animal argues argument Aristotle Aristotle says Aristotle’s beauty becoming begins biological body calls capacity causal Chapter claim clear comes coming-to-be completion concept Condition constitute context continuous contribution counts defended discussion distinction effects efficient cause elements embryo eternal example exist explain fact female final follows formal nature function heat human hylomorphic idea identifies individual interpretation involves kind living things male material matter means menstrual blood Metaphysics motion moving nature necessary necessity non-being nutritive organism passage persists Physics plants Plato possess possible potential powers present primary principle proceeds provides qualified question reading reason reference remains reproduction result role sake says seed semen sense separate serves simply sort soul species substance substantial suggests teleological theory thinks Timaeus transformation treats turn universe unqualified sense