more from Mary Louise Gill

Single Idea 17006

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / b. Prime matter]

Full Idea

I argue that prime matter has no place in Aristotle's elemental theory. ..References to prime matter are found in Aristotle's work because his theory was thought to need the doctrine. If I am right, these passages will all admit of another interpretation.

Gist of Idea

Prime matter has no place in Aristotle's theories, and passages claiming it are misread

Source

Mary Louise Gill (Aristotle on Substance [1989], App)

Book Reference

Gill,Mary Louise: 'Aristotle on Substance: Paradox of Unity' [Princeton 1989], p.252


A Reaction

If correct, this strikes me as important for the history of ideas, because scholastics got themselves in a right tangle over prime matter. See Pasnau on it. It pushed the 17th century into corpuscularianism.