Essay On Aristotle On The Void

#3

Aristotle has eight points that prove an actual void cannot exist. The void is not a condition of motion; Aristotle argues that not all motions need the void. He then argues the point that the void is not an interval, if a void is a place with nothing in it, than it would not be a void because it is a place. Next the void is inconsistent with motion because it goes against the doctrine of natural motion. Because projectiles move parallel to the Earth if there was a void there would be no medium for it to be moved through. Next an argument found at (215a 20), discusses the fact that objects stop in certain places rather than another or continuing to infinity proves there is not a void. Next, there is motion all throughout the universe and there is no motion in the void therefore there can be no void. Density is another factor, some people the space between atoms is where the void is. Aristotle says that difference in density is due to changes and that according to Aristotle does not require a void. He gives his final arguments on (216a 27) involving a cube and the void and his point is that the void is a thing rather than place with no body. Aristotle determines through these arguments that the void does not exist in nature.

#6

(239b 5-7) Zeno basically states that when the arrow is in a place it is at rest, at every moment it is flying through the air it is in a place its own size. Because of this at every moment in its flight it is at rest. Aristotle’s argument to this is that Zeno incorrectly assumes that time is made up of now’s. Aristotle’s solution is found at (239b 8-10). For Aristotle there is no motion in the now, so therefore the arrow is not at rest during its flight. Lines are not made up of points, time is not ...

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...ion and motion goes in a circle because it is complete and continuous. His final argument is that the unmoved mover (who is indivisible and has no parts because it is an infinite force and an infinite force cannot have a magnitude because that limits it) applies circular locomotion to the heavenly spheres, whom then passes the motion on to everything else.

#8

The study of motion is so central to the book; motion defines nature, time and is what causes process of change. Motion is an important aspect of understanding the physics of the world because the world is constantly in motion. Because motion is mentioned in the definition of nature, any discussion of nature will rely upon the explanation of motion. So in Aristotle’s attempt to define and understand the physics of the world heavily relied on motion and is the reason it is mentioned in every book of the physics.