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Single Idea 16613
[filed under theme 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 2. Hylomorphism / c. Form as causal
]
Full Idea
Scholastics lost their grip on hylomorphism as a metaphysical theory, conceiving of it as a concrete, physical hypothesis about causal forces. Once form and matter were made subject to empirical research, their days were inevitably numbered.
Gist of Idea
Hylomorphism declined because scholastics made it into a testable physical theory
Source
Robert Pasnau (Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 [2011], 06.1)
Book Ref
Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.101
A Reaction
Pasnau seems to make a sharp distinction between science, and a separate realm he labels 'metaphysical'. You can't keep causation out of Aristotelian hylomorphism. The defence is that it is at a higher level of generality than science.
The
53 ideas
from 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671'
16580
|
A substrate may be 'prime matter', which endures through every change
[Pasnau]
|
16579
|
There may be different types of substrate, or temporary substrates
[Pasnau]
|
16584
|
If a substrate gives causal support for change, quite a lot of the ingredients must endure
[Pasnau]
|
16583
|
Weak ex nihilo says it all comes from something; strong version says the old must partly endure
[Pasnau]
|
16581
|
Scholastic authors agree that matter was created by God, out of nothing
[Pasnau]
|
16586
|
The commentaries of Averroes were the leading guide to Aristotle
[Pasnau]
|
16592
|
Atomism is the commonest version of corpuscularianism, but isn't required by it
[Pasnau]
|
16596
|
A substratum can't be 'bare', because it has a job to do
[Pasnau]
|
16598
|
Priority was a major topic of dispute for scholastics
[Pasnau]
|
16602
|
Corpuscularianism rejected not only form, but also the dependence of matter on form
[Pasnau]
|
16603
|
In the 17th C matter became body, and was then studied by science
[Pasnau]
|
16606
|
Original philosophers invariably seek inspiration from past thinkers
[Pasnau]
|
16604
|
Philosophy consists of choosing between Plato, Aristotle and Democritus
[Pasnau]
|
16605
|
After c.1450 all of Plato was available. Before that, only the first half of 'Timaeus' was known
[Pasnau]
|
16607
|
Renaissance Platonism is peripheral
[Pasnau]
|
16609
|
Atomists say causation is mechanical collisions, and all true qualities are microscopic
[Pasnau]
|
16610
|
Philosophy could easily have died in 17th century, if it weren't for Descartes
[Pasnau]
|
16612
|
Hylomorphism may not be a rival to science, but an abstract account of unity and endurance
[Pasnau]
|
16613
|
Hylomorphism declined because scholastics made it into a testable physical theory
[Pasnau]
|
16615
|
Scholastics use 'substantia' for thick concrete entities, and for thin metaphysical ones
[Pasnau]
|
16617
|
Corpuscularian critics of scholasticism say only substances exist
[Pasnau]
|
16628
|
Corpuscularianism promised a decent account of substance
[Pasnau]
|
16568
|
Modernity begins in the late 12th century, with Averroes's commentaries on Aristotle
[Pasnau]
|
16642
|
Transubstantion says accidents of bread and wine don't inhere in the substance
[Pasnau]
|
16649
|
Scholastics say there is a genuine thing if it is 'separable'
[Pasnau]
|
16653
|
Once accidents were seen as real, 'Categories' became the major text for ontology
[Pasnau]
|
16662
|
The biggest question for scholastics is whether properties are real, or modes of substances
[Pasnau]
|
16671
|
Scholastic Quantity either gives a body parts, or spreads them out in a unified way
[Pasnau]
|
16677
|
Anti-Razor: if you can't account for a truth, keep positing things until you can
[Pasnau]
|
16680
|
Scholastics thought Quantity could be the principle of individuation
[Pasnau]
|
16694
|
Typical successive things are time and motion
[Pasnau]
|
16704
|
In 1347, the Church effectively stopped philosophy for the next 300 years
[Pasnau]
|
16715
|
Plato only made an impact locally in 15th century Italy
[Pasnau]
|
16722
|
Scholastic causation is by changes in the primary qualities of hot, cold, wet, dry
[Pasnau]
|
16727
|
In mixtures, the four elements ceased to exist, replaced by a mixed body with a form
[Pasnau]
|
16732
|
17th C qualities are either microphysical, or phenomenal, or powers
[Pasnau]
|
16733
|
17th century authors only recognised categorical properties, never dispositions
[Pasnau]
|
16738
|
Scholastics reject dispositions, because they are not actual, as forms require
[Pasnau]
|
16741
|
Scholastics wanted to treat Aristotelianism as physics, rather than as metaphysics
[Pasnau]
|
16748
|
Aquinas says a substance has one form; Scotists say it has many forms
[Pasnau]
|
16747
|
Scholastics made forms substantial, in a way unintended by Aristotle
[Pasnau]
|
16749
|
Aristotelians deny that all necessary properties are essential
[Pasnau]
|
16750
|
If there are just arrangements of corpuscles, where are the boundaries between substances?
[Pasnau]
|
16759
|
Scholastics began to see substantial form more as Aristotle's 'efficient' cause
[Pasnau]
|
16760
|
Substantial forms were a step towards scientific essentialism
[Pasnau]
|
16767
|
There is no centralised power, but we still need essence for a metaphysical understanding
[Pasnau]
|
16769
|
If clay survives destruction of the statue, the statue wasn't a substance, but a mere accident
[Pasnau]
|
16777
|
If crowds are things at all, they seem to be Substances, since they bear properties
[Pasnau]
|
16775
|
For corpuscularians, a substance is just its integral parts
[Pasnau]
|
16781
|
The 17th century is a metaphysical train wreck
[Pasnau]
|
16783
|
Essences must explain, so we can infer them causally from the accidents
[Pasnau]
|
16785
|
If you reject essences, questions of individuation become extremely difficult
[Pasnau]
|
16788
|
Instead of adding Aristotelian forms to physical stuff, one could add dispositions
[Pasnau]
|