The Order of Nature in Aristotle's Physics
The Order of Nature in Aristotle's Physics
This book enters into the point of view of the ancient world in order to explain how they saw the world, and to show what arguments were used by Aristotle to support this view. Lang demonstrates a new method for reading the texts of Aristotle by revealing a continuous line of argument running from the Physics to De Caelo, and analyzes a group of arguments that are almost always treated in isolation from one another to reveal their elegance and coherence. She establishes the case that we must rethink our approach to Aristotle's physical science and Aristotelian texts.
- Aristotle remains one of the most widely studied of all philosophers
- An alternative reading of Aristotle's views of the physical world showing its coherence and elegance
Reviews & endorsements
"...this book will be of interest to scholars. It will also interest those seeking to understand Aristotle's physics on its own terms." Norman O. Dahl, Religious Studies Review
Product details
October 1998Hardback
9780521624534
338 pages
236 × 159 × 27 mm
0.61kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Part I. Place:
- 1. Aristotle's physics and the problem of nature
- 2. Nature and motion
- 3. Place
- 4. Void
- Part II. The Elements:
- 5. Inclination: an ability to be moved
- 6. Inclination as heaviness and lightness
- 7. Inclination: the natures and activities of the elements
- Part III. Nature As a Cause of Order:
- 8. The order of nature in Aristotle's physics
- Bibliography of works cited
- Subject and name index
- Index of Aristotelian texts.
