more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 16572

[filed under theme 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 10. Beginning of an Object ]

Full Idea

The question might be raised whether substance (i.e. the 'this') comes-to-be at all. Is it not rather the 'such', the 'so-great', or the 'somewhere', which comes-to-be?

Gist of Idea

Does the pure 'this' come to be, or the 'this-such', or 'so-great', or 'somewhere'?

Source

Aristotle (Coming-to-be and Passing-away (Gen/Corr) [c.335 BCE], 317b21)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'The Basic Works of Aristotle', ed/tr. McKeon,Richard [Modern Library Classics 2001], p.479


A Reaction

This is interesting because it pulls the 'tode ti', the 'this-such', apart, showing that he does have a concept of a pure 'this', which seems to constitute the basis of being ('ousia'). We can say 'this thing', or 'one of these things'.


The 9 ideas with the same theme [coming-to-be of a substance or object]:

Substance is not created or destroyed in mortals, but there is only mixing and exchange [Empedocles]
Does the pure 'this' come to be, or the 'this-such', or 'so-great', or 'somewhere'? [Aristotle]
Philosophers have worried about coming-to-be from nothing pre-existing [Aristotle]
The substratum changing to a contrary is the material cause of coming-to-be [Aristotle]
If a perceptible substratum persists, it is 'alteration'; coming-to-be is a complete change [Aristotle]
Coming-to-be may be from nothing in a qualified way, as arising from an absence [Aristotle]
Generation is when local motions aggregate to become a single subject [Nicholas of Autrecourt]
Suppose a world where I'm from different gametes; add my gametes; which one is more me? [McGinn]
Weak ex nihilo says it all comes from something; strong version says the old must partly endure [Pasnau]