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Philosophy Ancient & Classical

Aristotle's Science of Matter and Motion

by (author) Christopher Byrne

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2018
Category
Ancient & Classical, Ancient & Classical, General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487503963
    Publish Date
    Jul 2018
    List Price
    $65.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487519179
    Publish Date
    Aug 2018
    List Price
    $65.00

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Description

Although Aristotle’s contribution to biology has long been recognized, there are many philosophers and historians of science who still hold that he was the great delayer of natural science, calling him the man who held up the Scientific Revolution by two thousand years. They argue that Aristotle never considered the nature of matter as such or the changes that perceptible objects undergo simply as physical objects; he only thought about the many different, specific natures found in perceptible objects.

 

Aristotle’s Science of Matter and Motion’s focus is on refuting this misconception, arguing that Aristotle actually offered a systematic account of matter, motion, and the basic causal powers found in all physical objects. Author, Christopher Byrne sheds lights on Aristotle’s account of matter, revealing how Aristotle maintained that all perceptible objects are ultimately made from physical matter of one kind or another, accounting for their basic common features. For Aristotle, then, matter matters a great deal.

About the author

Christopher Byrne is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at St. Francis Xavier University.

Christopher Byrne's profile page

Awards

  • Short-listed, PROSE Award for Philosophy awarded by The American Association of Publishers