back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 17464

[from 'Physics' by Aristotle, in 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / f. Ancient elements ]

Full Idea

It is not easy to understand what would induce a compound to dissociate into its elements on Aristotle's theory, which seems entirely geared to showing how a stable equilibrium results from mixing.

Gist of Idea

When Aristotle's elements compound they are stable, so why would they ever separate?

Source

comment on Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE]) by Weisberg/Needham/Hendry - Philosophy of Chemistry 1.1

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.5