Aristotle on Nature and Incomplete Substance [Paperback]

Explores Aristotle's concept of nature and its role in scientific explanation.This book examines Aristotle's metaphysics and his account of nature, stressing the ways in which his desire to explain observed natural processes shaped his philosophical thought. It departs radically from a tradition of interpretation, in which Aristotle is understood to have approached problems with a set of abstract principles in hand, principles derived from critical reflection on the views of his predecessors. This is a major reevaluation of Aristotle's metaphysics that will interest philosophers, classicists, and historians of classical science.This book examines Aristotle's metaphysics and his account of nature, stressing the ways in which his desire to explain observed natural processes shaped his philosophical thought. It departs radically from a tradition of interpretation, in which Aristotle is understood to have approached problems with a set of abstract principles in hand, principles derived from critical reflection on the views of his predecessors. This is a major reevaluation of Aristotle's metaphysics that will interest philosophers, classicists, and historians of classical science.This book examines Aristotle's metaphysics and his account of nature, stressing the ways in which his desire to explain observed natural processes shaped his philosophical thought. It departs radically from a tradition of interpretation, in which Aristotle is understood to have approached problems with a set of abstract principles in hand, principles derived from critical reflection on the views of his predecessors. This is a major reevaluation of Aristotle's metaphysics that will interest philosophers, classicists, and historians of classical science.1. Nature and things; 2. Elemental motion and alteration; 3. Elemental transformation and the persistence of matter; 4. Unity; 5. Living things. This book includes interesting discussions of substance, nature, essence, living things, arlÓC