Aristotle's Physics

750 Pages·1936·0.93 MB·English

by  W.D. Ross (comm.)

API~TOTEAOT~ <I>T~IKH AKPOA~I~
ARISTOTLE'S
PHYSICS
A REVISED TEXT
WITH INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY
BY
w. D. ROSS
PROVOST OF ORIEL COLLEGE
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1936
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
AlItEN HOUSE, E.C. 4
London Edinburgh Glasgow
New York Toronto Melbourne
Capetown Bombay Calculla
Madras Shanghai
HUMPHREY MILFORD
PUBLISHER TO THE
UNIVERSITY
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
PREFACE
THE Physics has always been recognized to be one of the most
important of Aristotle's works, and it is therefore rather sur
prising that, until the appearance of Wicks teed and Corn ford's
edition, no edition with an introduction and commentary had
been produced in modern times. The need of such an edition
was brought home to me when I was engaged in preparing for
publication the translation by R. P. Hardie and R. K. Gaye;
and the task of an editor had been facilitated by the Berlin
Academy's editions of the paraphrase by Themistius and of the
commentaries of Philoponus and Simplicius. I had some hopes
that new light might be thrown on the text by a collation of the
hitherto neglected Vienna MS. Gr. 100; but these have hardly
been realized, since that MS. does not preserve many good
readings that were not already known to exist in other M 55.
More light has in fact been derived from a study of the three
Greek commentators. lowe much to the careful and scholarly
work of Messrs. Hardie and Gaye; and at an earlier stage I
learned much in the pleasant hours spent I in reading the
PhYSICS as a member of the Oxford Aristotelian Society, under
the guidance of such consummate Aristotelians as Professors
Bywater, Smith, and Joachim.
I have varied the plan adopted in my edition of the Meta·
phys,cs, by printing the analysis continuously instead of prefixing
it to the several chapters; I hope that this will make it easier for
readers to follow the course of the magnificently continuous
argument which runs, in particular, through books v, vi, and
viii.
It would have been possible, and might have been profitable,
to make the Introduction much longer, by attempting to discuss
more fully the philosophical merits of Aristotle's argument and
of the resultant doctrines; but I thought that the interests of
readers would on the whole be better served by keeping the
work within the limits of a single volume. I have tried to supply,
in text and commentary, the foundation on which such a discus
sion by others may be based.
VI PREFACE
wish to acknowledge with gratitude the provIsion by the
Jowett Copyright Fund of a subsidy which has assisted the
publication of the book, and to thank the officers and staff of
the Clarendon Press for the care they have bestowed on its
production. I would also thank Mr. D. J. Allan, Fellow of
Balliol College, for his kindness in looking up some doubtful
readings of the Paris MSS. 1859 and 1861.
W. D.R.
CONTENTS
BOOKS REFERRED TO viii
INTRODUCTION:
1. THE STRUCTURE OF THE PHYSICS I
II. ARISTOTLE'S NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 19
III. THE TEXT OF THE PHYSICS 102
PHYSICS:
TEXT "9
SIGLA 120
SECOND VERSION OF vii 1-3
ANALYSIS .
COMMENTARY
INDEXES:
INDEX VERBORUM 733
INDEX TO THE INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY 748
BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE PHYSiCS
AND OTHER BOOKS REFERRED TO
(This list is meant only to facilitate reference, and does not aim at
completeness. )
A.C.P. = Arthivfur Geschickte dey PhilosofJltie.
J.P. ~ Jolt",al oj Philology.
R./lII.M. = Revue de Alttapltysique ct de Morale.
R.P. = Revue Ph£losojJhique.
Aldus Manutius: Arist. vita foX Laerlio . .. Aris!. de pltys. audiltl .
Ven. 1497·
Arnim, H. von: Die EntstelZ1mg d. Gotltslehre d. Arts!. Wien, 1931.
Baumker, C: Vumeilltiiche Arist. Zeugnisse iJber Anarimalldros'
AI1EIPON, i"Jaltro.J. CI. Pltilol. [31 ([885),827-32.
Bekker, I: Arisl. Opera. Berol., 1831.
Bergson, H.: Quid Arist. de loco senserit. Paris, 1889.
Bonitz, H.: Arisl. Sludiefl. i. ii-:ii, iv. Wien, 1862,1863, 1866.
Bonitz, H : Inder Arist. BeroL, 1870.
Brandis, C. A.! Comment. E/eatieae. Al:ona, 1813.
Burnet, J.: Early Creek Philosophy, ed. 3. Lond. 1920.
Bywater, I.: Aristotelia ii, v, in J.P. xiv (1885), 41 and xxxi (1913),
107.
Camoti~s, J. B.: Anst. de pltys. auscultalione,&c. Ven.I5SI.
Carteron, H.: La Notion de Force dans Ie Systeme ti' Arist. Paris,
1924.
Carleron, H.: An·st. Pltys. Paris, 1926, 1931.
Comford, F. M.: Tile Laws of !vlotion in Ancient Thought. Camb.,
1931.
Cornford, F. M.: Arist. Pltys., 25011 9-19 and 266:" 12-24, in Class. Quart.,
xxvi (1932), 52-4.
i,.,
Dickerman, S. 0.: Some Stock Illustrations of Am'mal Intel/igmee
Greek Psychology, in Trans. oj American Plt~'lol. Assocn. xlii (191 I),
123-30•
Diels, H.: DoxograjJhi Gratei. Berol., 1879.
DieJs, H.: Zur Te:rtgesclticJtle ti. Arisl. Pltys. Berlin, 1882.
Diels, H.: Fragmenle d. Vm'sokratiker, ed. 3. Berlin, 1912.
Edel, A.: Aristotle's Theory oftlte Infinite. New York, 1934.
Emminger, A. : Die 'llorsokratiscltm PltilosojJlten n(Uk d. Bericltlen d.
Arist. Wtirzburg, 1878.
Erasmus, D.: Arist. .. . Opera. Basil., 1531.
BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE PHYSICS IX
Frohlings, A.: Die Begnl1e Dynamis 11. Energie d. Ansi. 'II. d. tnodeYllm
pl,ysiJ.:alisdrm Hegriffi d. Kraft 11. Energie. Koblenz, 1929.
Gagnebin, S.: Un ApeyfU de la Physique d' Arist. Lausanne, 1934.
Gohlke, P.: Die Entstdumgsgesclticlzte d. natu1"-dlisst1Zscnajliid,nt
Scltnflen d. Arlst., in Hn7nu Iix (1924), 274-306.
Goldbeck, E.: Die gto8e1llriscne Lekre d. Arist, 11. inre Auj16mng.
Berlin, 1911.
Goltschlich, E.: Zlir Phys. d. Arist., in Jahrb. f. Ct. Philol. CV (1872),
618-20 and cvii (1873), 109-10.
Guthrie, W. K. C.: Tlte Droe/oplllmt of Arisl.'s Tlu%O, in Class.
Qllart. xxvii (1933), 162-71, xxviii (1934), 90-8.
Haas, A. E : Die Gnmdlagm d. anliken Dynamik, in Arch. d. Cud,. d.
Naturwislencltajlen 11. d. Teclmik i (1908), 19-47.
Hamelin, 0.: La Nature eI Ie MouvmzeJtt d'apres Adst., in R.P. Ixxxvii
(1919),353-68.
Hamelin, 0.: Arist. Phys. ii - Traduction el Commentaire, cd. 2. Paris,
'93
Hardcas"t le, j. H. and Greenhill, G.: Prof TUrlle1' and Arist., in Nature,
xcii (1913-14), 584-5.
Hardcastle. j. I-f.: Aristotle's Physics, in h'ature xciii (1~,jl4), 428.
Hardie, R. P. and Caye, R. K.: Translation of Pltysicr. Oxford, 1930.
Hayduck, M.: Belftcr/mngen zur Phys. d. Arist. Greifswald, 1871.
Hayduck, M.: Ooservatiolles Critical! in aii'lllot locos Arisl. Greifswald,
I8n
Heath, D. D.: 011 some Misconceptions oj Arist.'s doctrine on Causall01'
and TO (J~TOJA(J"O~, in J.P. vii (I877), 97-115.
Heidel, W. A.: Qualitative Change in Pre-Socratic Philosophy, in A.C.P.
xix (1906), 553-79.
Hoffmann, E.: De Arist. Pltys. sept:mi libri origine at auctor/tate.
Berol., 1905.
Hoffmann, E.: De Arist. Pltys. libn: sejJtimi forma, I, II. Friedenau,
1908-<).
Jackson, H.: Plato's Later Tluory of Ideas, inj.P. x (1882), 291.
jaeger, W. W.: Emendutionu1JZ Aristotelearum Speci1ftt1l. Bero1., 191 I.
jaeger, \V.: Aristoleles. Berlin, 1923,
Kappes, M.: Die An'st. Leltre uber BegrijJu. Ursache d. "l ... ,p'lr. Bonn,
1887·
Kuhner, R.: Ausfohrlidu Grammatik d. Gr. Sprnche. Hannover, 1890-
'904·
Laas, E.: AriJl. Textes·Studim. Berlin, 1863.
Mansion, A.: La Notion de nature dans la Pltys. arisl., in Univ. de
r
L01lvoill, A1Jnofes de inst. sup. de philos. i (1912), 469 fr.
Mansion, A. : introduction a fa PAys, art'st. Louvain et Paris, 1913.
Mansion, A.: Elude cn'tique sur Ie texte de la PAys. d'Art'sl. (L. I-IV),
s-.p.
in Revtu de Philol. xlvii (1923),
x BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE PHYSICS
Mansion, A.: La. Genese de j'(E1tvre d'Arist. d'apres les Trava1lx
rice11-!s, in Re.me NiowScol. de PM/os.) 2e serie iv, 1927, 307-41,
42S-66.
Mansion, A.: Note mr les tradu.ction! arabo-lati1tcs de fa Pltys. d'Arist.
dans la tradition manuscrile, ib. xxxvii (1934), 202-18.
Mansion, A.: Lfl Thlorie aristoliliemtc du temps chez les peripateticiens
m'drlvallx, ib. xxxvi (1934), 275-307.
Montucla, J. E.: Hist. des Recherches sltr lit quadrature du cercle.
Paris, 183 I.
Morelius, G.: Arist. co1lt1Jtentai£onltm de natura lib. viii, &c. Paris,
IS61.
Mosses, A.: Vorgesdlichte d, vier Arist. Prindpien b. PillIon. Bern,
1893.
Mugnier, R.; La TIt/oric dte premier malmr et "cvOtU/i01Z de fa pensee
ar£st. Paris, 1930.
Natorp, P.: Arist. u. d. Eleaten, in Phi/os. A10natsch. xxvi (1890), 1-16,
147-69·
Neuhauser, J.: Anaritnander MiJesius. Bonn, ISSO.
Offner, M.: Zltr Beurteilung d. Melissos, in A.C.P. iv (189.1), 22-35.
Pacius, J.: Naturalis Auscultatiom's Lib. VIII. Francof., 1596.
Pauter, A. von.: Ober d.·Theislllus d. Arist., in A.C.P. xxxvii (1926),
202-10.
PhiioponllS, I.: In Arist. Phys. Commentaria, ed. H. Vitelli. Berol.,
1887-8.
Pranti, c.: Artst. Acht BiicJlCr Phys. Leipz., 1854.
Prantl, c.: Arist. Phys. Lips., 1879.
Reiche, L.: Vas Problem d. Unendiichen b. Art'st. Breslau, 191 I.
Robinr L.: Sur la conception art'st. de la catualite, in A.C.P. xxiii (1910),
1-28,184-210.
Rodier, G.: Sur la Compositiolt de la Pkys. diArist., in A.C.P., viii
(189S), 44S-60 and ix (1896), 18S-9·
Rolfes, E.: Die Philos. d. Art'st. als Naturerkliirung 11. Welta1tschautmg-.
Leipz., 1923.
a
Ruelle, C.-E.: Etude sur un Passage d' Arist. relatif la Mlcallique
(Z49b27- 25oa 19), in Rev. Arch. xiv (1857), 7-21.
Schmitz, J.: De cz,YIEn~ apud Arist. Notio1le eitlsque ad animam
ratione. Bonn, 1884.
Shute, R.: On Prantl's Recens£on of the Arist. Phys., in Trans. of Ox;.
Philol. Soc., 1879-80,29-31.
Shute, R.: An·st. Pkys. Bk. VII, in Anecdola O.rim. Oxf.; 1882.
Simplicius: In Arist. Phys. Commentaria, ed. H. Diels. Berol., 1882,
188S·
Spengel, L.: Ober d. siebenfe Buelt d. Phys. d. A,-ist., in Abh.d. Phi/os.
PM/ol. Cl. d. Konigl. Bayer. Akad. d. Wissenschaften, iii. 2 (1841),
30S-49·
BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE PHYSICS XI
Spengel, L.: Obe1" d. ReihenJolge d. 11aturwisUllschajtlic/un ScltrtJten
d. Arist. lb. xv. 2 (1849), 141-67.
Sperling, K: Arist. A1lSichl7J. d.j;sycnologischm Bedeutung d. Zeit, &c.
Marburg, 188B,
1 Stolzle, R. Die Leltre 110m Unendlichen b. Arisl. Wtirzhurg, 1882.
Susemihl, F. : Artst. quaefenmtur Oeconomica, Appendix. Lips.,IS87.
Tannery, P.: Sur 1m point de la milltorle d'Arist. In A.G.P. vi.
(1893),468-74·
Tannery, P.: Sur la Composition de la PAys. d' Arist. lb. vii (1894),
224--9 and ix (1896), 115-8.
Taylor, A. E.: A risto/Ie's Doctrine 0/ .Space, in A Commetltary on
Plalo's Tilllaetls. Oxford, 1928,664-77.
Tennemann, \V. G. : Gesell. d. PM!. Leipzig, 1798-1819.
Themistius: 11, ArtSI. Phys. Parapkrasis, ed. H. Schenk!. Berol., 1900.
Torstrik, A.: Die allthmtica d. BeyUner Aus/,rabe d. Arist., in Philol.
xii (1857), 494-530.
Torstrik, A.: Der An/ang d. Phys. d. Arisl., in JaMb.f CI. Philol. xcv
(I867),236-44·
Torstrik, A: Ober d. Abhm,dlung d. Arist. v. d. Zeit. Pk)'s. t:J. 10./f., in
Philoi. xxvi (1867), 446-523.
Torstrik, A.: Ilfpl. TUX'Ir KQi TOU a~rop.&TOIJ, Arist. Pltys. 0,4-6, in Hermes
ix (1875), 425-70.
Veazie, W. B.: The 1.t.Jord<j>vrnr, in A.G.P. xxxiii (1920), 1-22.
Vicomercntus, F.: it, oclo iibyos An·st. de Nalural; Auscultatiolle.
Paris, 1550.
Wallies, M.: ZUY doppeiten Rezension d. siebmlen Buchesd. Ami. Phys.,
in Rhe£n. Mus. N.F.lxx (1915),147-9.
Wicksteed, P. H. and Cornford, F. M.: Art'sl., Ihe Phys. Lond., 1929,
'934·
Wilson, j. Cook: Difficullies in tlie Text 0/ Art'sl" in J.P. xxxii (1913),
147-51.
'Wunderle, G.: Die Leltye d. Arist. v. d. Zeil. Munch. 1908.
Zahlfleisch, J. : Die Polemik d. Simftiicius ... gt'gm Arist. Phys. t:J. 1-5
,.jber d. Rau1Il, in A.C.P. x (1897), 85-109.
Zeller, £ : Philos. d. Griechen. Vol. i, ed. 6; vol. ii. I, ed. 4; vol. ii. 2,
ed.4. Leipz., 19I~20, 1889, 1921.
(Books and Articles on Zeno's Paradoxes about Motion.)
Broad, C. D., in Mind xxii (1913), 318-19.
Brochard, V., in Stal1ces et Tra7Jallx de l'Acad. des Sc. Mol'. et Pol.
N.S. xxix (1888), I. 555-68.
Brochard, V,) in R.M.M. i (1893), 2og-15.
Brochard, V. : Etudes de PM/os. ancienne et de Phi/os. 1Itoderne. Paris,
1912.
xii BOOKS AND ARTICLES ON THE PHYSICS
Cajori, F.: The H£slory oJ Zmo's arguments 0" Motion, in A mer.
Moth. Monthly xxii (1915), 1-6,39-47,77-82,109-15,143-9,179-86,
215-20,253-8,352-7.
Coutu rat, L., in H.P. xxxiii (1892), 314-15.
Dunan, c.: Zenonis Eleatici argumenta. 1': annetibus, 1884.
Dunan, c.: us arguments de Zenon d' Elle contYI! Ie lIIoltvemrnl.
Paris, 1884.
Dunan, C., in Atmales de Phi/os. Chrtt., 1909.
Evellin, F., in I?M.M. i (1893),382--<)5.
Frontera, G.: Etudes sur les arguments de Zlnon d'Elle, &c. Paris,
J891.
Frontera, G., in R.P. xxxiii (1892), 311-4.
Caye, R. K., in J.P. xxxi (1908), 94-116.
Gerling: De Zenonis paralogism;s molum spec/aft/£Ims. Marburg, 1825.
Hamelin, 0., in Annie Philos. xvii (1907), 39-44.
Heath, Sir T. L.: Hisl. o/Greek IIfa/h. i, 273-83. Oxf.,192t.
Jourdain, P. E. B., in 111£nd xxv (1916), 42-55.
Lachelier, J., in R.JII/.tW. xviii (1910), 345-55.
Lechalas, G., in R.J1If.AI. i (1893), 3¢-400.
Lechalas, G.: Etude surl'espace et Ie temps. Paris, 1910.
Masci, F.: Su a/cum'Iuogh£ della Fisica d' Ansi. Napoli, '912.
Milhaud, G., in R.M.M. i (1893), 151-6,400-6.
Mouret, G., in H.P. xxxiii (1892),67-71.
Noel, G., in R.tW.M. i (1893),108-25.
Petronievics, R, in A.G.P. xx (19(>]), 56-80.
Raab, C.: Die Zmonischen Beweise. Schweinfurt, 1880.
Renouvier, C. B.: Estjuisse d'une Classification s)'sttmalitjlU! des Doc
tr£lles philosojJltitjues, i. 34-9. Paris, 1885.
Russell, B. : Pn'ncip/es oj Math., i. 347-60. Camb., 1903.
Russell, B.: Our Kn07t.Jledge 0/ the External World, 129-37, 165-82.
Chicago and Lond., 1914.
Salinger, R. in A.G.P., xix (1C)06), 99-122.
t
Sorel, G., in Revue Scimtijitjue I (1892), 141-4.
Tanner)', P., in R.P. xx (1885), 385-410.
T:mnery, P. : Pour /'!tis/oire de la sC£ence !tel/etu, 247-61. Paris, 1887.
Wellmann, E.: Zenos Beweisegegen d. Beweglmg 11. iltre W£der/egwlgm.
Frankf. a. 0., 1870.
Zeller, E.: Phi/os. d. Griechen, i. I. ed. 6, 755-65. Leipz., 1919.