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Single Idea 15778

[from 'Metaphysics' by Aristotle, in 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 4. Potentiality ]

Full Idea

Things are broken, compressed, bent and, in a word, destroyed not by dint of having a potentiality but by dint of not having one and by missing out on something.

Gist of Idea

Things are destroyed not by their powers, but by their lack of them

Source

Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1019a27)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.132


A Reaction

Presumably an ontology entirely based on powers would not also need to catalogue absence of powers. The positive ones do the job. No power, no destruction.