PHILOS 2F03 Lecture 20: Theory of Elements and Qualities
14 Sep 2016
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Aristotle: believed nature was really complicated, accepted the complications and worked with them, wanted to systematize the complications, accepted the theory of the 4 elements and mixed it with 4 qualitative states. The theory of the 4 elements was first proposed by empedocles. The laws for air are not the laws for earth for example. These elements are not unchangeable but they can pass through eachother in terms of adding or removing a quality (can interchange) The word atom comes from the greeks meaning uncut, indivisible . Aristotle stated that what surrounds an atom must be empty space otherwise it is not 2 entities rather it is only one entity. An atom is a special body with no parts (aristotle believed this to be absurd) Aristotle draws the conclusion that matter is continuous; can be cut an infinite number of times. Aristotle thought that the laws of nature change depending on where you are.
