Aristotle on Infinite Motion
Aristotle starts his argument about the impossibility of the infinite motion with the statement: “Everything that is in motion must be moved by something”. Let’s consider that there is something that is not moved by something. It has the source of its motion in itself. Then, let’s imagine this thing at rest. Aristotle supposes that […]
Aristotle on Void
For Aristotle, there is no separate void. It is thought that if there is movement of simple bodies, then the void must exist. In particular, if one body moves toward or upward, it is because there is a void. So, it is thought to be a sort of place deprived of body. Aristotle casts a […]
Socrates on Philosophy
One of you might perhaps interrupt me and say: “But Socrates, what is your occupation? From where have these slanders come? For surely if you did not busy yourself with something out of the common, all these rumors and talk would not have arisen unless you did something other than most people. Tell us what […]
Socratic Philosophy
In the Socratic literature, Socrates was arguably the most influential philosopher of antiquity. He did not write anything, but his influence is at the origin of the so-called Socratic literature. It’s a collection of books written by Socratic followers. By reading Socratic literature, we discover philosophy. Plato’s interpretation of Socrates is the one most familiar […]
Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Sophia (wisdom) Philosophy is a Greek invention. It is a phenomenon. Ancient Greeks referred themselves to SOPHISTÊS, coming from SOPHIA (wisdom or knowledge). SOPHIA is an inquiry into nature that investigates the causes of everything, why it comes to be, why it perishes, and why it exists. For Greeks, SOPHIA does not have to be […]
Artistotle on Final Causes and Necessity in Nature
To explain something by reducing it to the matter (physicism) is an old style of presocratic philosophy. Empedocles explained things in this way. He looked at ‘becoming’ and using ‘becoming’ explained ‘being’. Aristotle rejects this method as life cannot be explained by material terms. He is trying to combine goals, necessity with the matter. If […]
Aristotle on Nature
According to Aristotle, nature is an internal principle of motion. No production thing has within itself the principle of its own production. In some things (for instance, a house or any other product of handicraft) the principle comes from outside, and it is withing other things. In other things (those that might turn out to […]
Aristotle on Causality
According to Artistotle, there are 4 types of causes: Consider the production of an artifact like a bronze statue. The bronze is the material cause in the production of the statue. The bronze is also a subject to change, the thing that undergoes the change and results in a statue. The bronze is melted and […]
Aristotle on Happiness
By Aristotle, an ethical life is a rational life which should be centered around the goal understood as the good. This is the central good. There are other goods in life, such as prosperity, friendship, power, health. However, they are all pointless without the central good. This good gives the other goods their point. Aristotle […]
Epicurus on Happiness
By Epicurus, happiness is pleasure. It is a state of the soul that is free of disturbances and the state of the body that is free of pain. There is a final goal and it’s name is ATARAXIA / TRANQUILITY. Epicurus argues that pleasure is natural. As soon as each animal is born, it seeks […]