Aristotle and Corruptibility: A Discussion of Aristotle De Caelo I, xii
(5) ἆρ' ?ἰ kaì ?γ ?´νητον (282 a 25) πρòς τò ?θαρτόν, ?ϕ' ᾧΘ (283 a 3). Aristotle claims so far to have proved that the eternal is incorruptible and that it is ungenerated. He has still to prove the converse of each of these propositions, namely, that whatever is incorruptible is eterna...
| Published in: | Religious studies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
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| Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
[1966]
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| In: |
Religious studies
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | (5) ἆρ' ?ἰ kaì ?γ ?´νητον (282 a 25)
πρòς τò ?θαρτόν, ?ϕ' ᾧΘ (283 a 3). Aristotle claims so far to have proved that the eternal is incorruptible and that it is ungenerated. He has still to prove the converse of each of these propositions, namely, that whatever is incorruptible is eternal and that whatever is ungenerated is eternal also. After putting the thesis in question form he gives a further definition of ?γ?´νητος and ἃ?θαρτος in the parenthesis of 282 a 27-30. Unfortunately in both cases he uses the assertoric form of the definiens, although in chapter 11 he had used a modal form in the relevant passages (cf. kυρίως 280 b 32 and 282 a 27); but this confusion does not seem to affect the immediate trend of the argument. He then (282 a 30—b 1) shows that his thesis follows necessarily from the convertibility of ?γ?´νητος and ἃ?θαρτος. The additional premiss that is necessary in order to secure this inference, namely, that that which is both ungenerated and incorruptible is eternal, is clear from the definition of the terms. It is also clear from the convertibility of ?θαρτóς and γ? νητóς, which itself is entailed by the supposed convertibility of their contradictories. This last inference seems too trivial to deserve a mention, but Aristotle devotes 282 b 2-5 to proving it. Then, having demonstrated to his satisfaction that the convertibility of ἃ?θαρτος and ?γ?´νητος necessarily implies the eternity of both the incorruptible and the ungenerated, he adds, for good measure, that if the terms are not convertible the implication is no longer necessary (282 b 5-7). |
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| ISSN: | 1469-901X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religious studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S003441250000247X |