Title | In defence of geometric atomism: Explaining elemental properties |
Type | Book Section |
Language | English |
Date | 2012 |
Published in | Neoplatonism and the Philosophy of Nature |
Pages | 147-173 |
Categories | no categories |
Author(s) | Opsomer, Jan |
Editor(s) | Wilberding, James , Horn, Christoph |
Translator(s) |
Plato introduces what is nowadays called geometric atomism in his Timaeus—more precisely, in the second part of the physical account where he examines the cosmos under the aspect of what he calls ‘necessity’. This resurfaces again in the final part, which is devoted to what comes about from the cooperation of reason and necessity, where he regularly invokes the triangles and polyhedra in order to explain various biochemical processes of the human body. The introduction of geometric atomism is preceded by the infamously obscure description of the receptacle. This mysterious entity is presented as that in which qualities and shapes appear but also appears to provide the stuff out of which things are made.1 I will not here enter into the debates about what the receptacle is supposed to be; it suffices to note that the text in some passages may suggest to readers familiar with the later conception of matter that matter is exactly what Plato means. Since this is certainly what Aristotle1 2 and in his wake all ancient commentators took it to be, we need not for our present purposes consider other readings. [Introduction, p. 147] |
Online Resources | https://uni-koeln.sciebo.de/s/x8mHljUEiDjK4jt |
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This resurfaces again in the final part, \r\nwhich is devoted to what comes about from the cooperation of reason and necessity, \r\nwhere he regularly invokes the triangles and polyhedra in order to explain various \r\nbiochemical processes of the human body. The introduction of geometric atomism is \r\npreceded by the infamously obscure description of the receptacle. This mysterious \r\nentity is presented as that in which qualities and shapes appear but also appears to \r\nprovide the stuff out of which things are made.1 I will not here enter into the debates \r\nabout what the receptacle is supposed to be; it suffices to note that the text in some \r\npassages may suggest to readers familiar with the later conception of matter that matter \r\nis exactly what Plato means. Since this is certainly what Aristotle1 2 and in his wake all \r\nancient commentators took it to be, we need not for our present purposes consider \r\nother readings. 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Title | In defence of geometric atomism: Explaining elemental properties |
Type | Book Section |
Language | English |
Date | 2012 |
Published in | Neoplatonism and the Philosophy of Nature |
Pages | 147-173 |
Categories | no categories |
Author(s) | Opsomer, Jan |
Editor(s) | Wilberding, James , Horn, Christoph |
Translator(s) |
Plato introduces what is nowadays called geometric atomism in his Timaeus—more precisely, in the second part of the physical account where he examines the cosmos under the aspect of what he calls ‘necessity’. This resurfaces again in the final part, which is devoted to what comes about from the cooperation of reason and necessity, where he regularly invokes the triangles and polyhedra in order to explain various biochemical processes of the human body. The introduction of geometric atomism is preceded by the infamously obscure description of the receptacle. This mysterious entity is presented as that in which qualities and shapes appear but also appears to provide the stuff out of which things are made.1 I will not here enter into the debates about what the receptacle is supposed to be; it suffices to note that the text in some passages may suggest to readers familiar with the later conception of matter that matter is exactly what Plato means. Since this is certainly what Aristotle1 2 and in his wake all ancient commentators took it to be, we need not for our present purposes consider other readings. [Introduction, p. 147] |
Online Resources | https://uni-koeln.sciebo.de/s/x8mHljUEiDjK4jt |
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