Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Courtier and the Heretic', 'Philosophical Studies 1611-19' and 'De rebus naturalibus'

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2 ideas

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / a. Greek matter

16624	Stripped and passive matter is just a human invention [Bacon]
	Full Idea: Stripped and passive matter seems nothing more than an invention of the human mind.
	From: Francis Bacon (Philosophical Studies 1611-19 [1617], p.206), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 07.2
	A reaction: Bacon seems to me to get too little credit in the history of philosophy, because he is just seen as a progenitor of science. His modern views predate most radical 17th C thought by 20 years.

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

16571	Prime matter is exceptionally obscure [Zabarella]
	Full Idea: Nothing in the natural world seems to be more obscure and difficult to grasp than the prime matter of things.
	From: Jacob Zabarella (De rebus naturalibus [1590], I.1 col 133), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 2.1
	A reaction: This spells the beginning of the end for 'prime matter', since a late scholastic is doubting it, even before the scientists got to work. Most modern Aristotelians slide quietly past prime matter, as unhelpful.