Philoponus: Against Proclus On the Eternity of the World 9-11 (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle)

"In one of the most original books of late antiquity, Philoponus argues for the Christian view that matter can be created by God out of nothing. It needs no prior matter for its creation. At the same time, Philoponus transforms Aristotle's conception of prime matter as an incorporeal 'something - I know not what' that serves as the ultimate subject for receiving extension and qualities. On the contrary, says Philoponus, the ultimate subject is extension. It is three-dimensional extension with its exact dimensions and any qualities unspecified. Moreover, such extension is the defining characteristic of body. Hence, so far from being incorporeal, it is body, and as well as being prime matter, it is form - the form that constitutes body. This uses, but entirely disrupts, Aristotle's conceptual apparatus. Finally, in Aristotle's scheme of categories, this extension is not to be classified under the second category of quantity, but under the first category of substance as a substantial quantity."--Bloomsbury Publishing In one of the most original books of late antiquity, Philoponus argues for the Christian view that matter can be created by God out of nothing. It needs no prior matter for its creation. At the same time, Philoponus transforms Aristotle's conception of prime matter as an incorporeal 'something - I know not what' that serves as the ultimate subject for receiving extension and qualities. On the contrary, says Philoponus, the ultimate subject is extension. It is three-dimensional extension with its exact dimensions and any qualities unspecified. Moreover, such extension is the defining characteristic of body. Hence, so far from being incorporeal, it is body, and as well as being prime matter, it is form - the form that constitutes body. This uses, but entirely disrupts, Aristotle's conceptual apparatus. Finally, in Aristotle's scheme of categories, this extension is not to be classified under the second category of quantity, but under the first category of substance as a substantial quantity. This volume contains an English translation of Philoponus' commentary, detailed notes and introduction, and a bibliography. In One Of The Most Original Books Of Late Antiquity, Philoponus Argues For The Christian View That Matter Can Be Created By God Out Of Nothing. It Needs No Prior Matter For Its Creation. At The Same Time, Philoponus Transforms Aristotle's Conception Of Prime Matter As An Incorporeal 'something - I Know Not What' That Serves As The Ultimate Subject For Receiving Extension And Qualities. On The Contrary, Says Philoponus, The Ultimate Subject Is Extension. It Is Three-dimensional Extension With Its Exact Dimensions And Any Qualities Unspecified. Moreover, Such Extension Is The Defining Characteristic Of Body. Hence, So Far From Being Incorporeal, It Is Body, And As Well As Being Prime Matter, It Is Form - The Form That Constitutes Body. This Uses, But Entirely Disrupts, Aristotle's Conceptual Apparatus. Finally, In Aristotle's Scheme Of Categories, This Extension Is Not To Be Classified Under The Second Category Of Quantity, But Under The First Category Of Substance As A Substantial Quantity.--jacket. Philoponus ; Translated By Michael Share. Translated From The Ancient Greek: De Aeternitate Mundi Contra Proclum. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [131]-132) And Indexes. Translated From The Ancient Greek. "This volume completes, starting from chapter 6, the commentary by the young Philoponus on Aristotle's Categories, of which chapters 1-5 were previously published in this series (Philoponus: On Aristotle Categories 1-5 with Philoponus: A Treatise Concerning the Whole and the Parts). This ancient commentary was the first work in the Aristotelian syllabus after a general introduction to Aristotle by the same author. It is influenced by an extant short anonymous record of Philoponus' teacher Ammonius' lectures on the same work, but Philoponus' commentary is two and a half times as long as that anonymous record, and includes special contributions of Philoponus' own, for example in philology, Christian theology and in disagreements with Aristotle"-- Cover 1 Contents 6 Introduction 8 Translator’s Note 14 Departures from Rabe’s Text 16 Translation 20 Chapter 9 22 Chapter 10 61 Chapter 11 75 Notes 112 Bibliography 138 English-Greek Glossary 140 A 140 B 140 C 140 D 141 E 142 F 142 G 142 H 142 I 142 K 143 L 143 M 143 N 143 O 143 P 143 Q 144 R 144 S 144 T 145 U 145 V 145 W 145 Greek-English Index 146 A 146 B 149 D 150 E 151 G 153 H 153 I 155 K 156 L 157 M 158 N 159 O 159 P 160 R 163 S 163 T 165 X 166 Z 166 Subject Index 168 A 168 B 168 C 168 D 169 E 169 F 169 G 170 H 170 I 170 L 170 M 171 N 171 O 171 P 172 Q 172 R 173 S 173 T 173 U 173 Z 173 Index of Passages Cited 174 A 174 E 174 G 174 H 174 P 174 S 175 Of John Philoponus' commentary on the Meteorology, only that on chapters 1-9 and 12 of the first book has been preserved. It is translated in this series in two parts, the first covering chapters 1-1.3 (London : Bristol Classical Press, 2011), the second chapters 1.4-9 and 12. Content: Preface Introduction Textual Emendations TRANSLATION Notes Bibliography English-Greek Glossary Greek-English Index Index of Passages Cited Subject Index