Aristotle, potential and actual, conflicts
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Date
2015
Authors
Turner, Andrew J
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand
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© 2015, Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand
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Abstract
In The Metaphysics Book Theta, Chapter four, Aristotle claims that to state that “some
X is possible but X will never be” is a mistake. In effect, he collapses the possible into
the actual. This view conflicts with the existence of dispositions which I argue exist,
as they are indispensable to science. In Theta Chapter three, Aristotle sets out a test of
possibility whereby we assume that some entity exists and then see if an impossibility
ensues. I apply this test to Aristotle’s theory and show that it entails the impossibility
of dispositions. Given the clear existence of dispositions, Aristotle’s conflation of the
possible with the actual fails his own test of possibility and must be wrong.
Description
Keywords
Greek studies, Aristotle, Philosophy
Citation
Turner, A., 2015. Aristotle, potential and actual, conflicts. In: M. Tsianikas, G. Couvalis and M. Palaktsoglou (eds.) "Reading, interpreting, experiencing: an inter-cultural journey into Greek letters". Modern Greek Studies Association of New Zealand, 62-72.