Philoponus: Against Proclus on the Eternity of the World
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Share, Michael, PUBLISHER: Duckworth Publishing, In one ong>ofong> ong>ong>theong>ong> most original books ong>ofong> late antiquity, Philoponus argues for ong>ong>theong>ong> Christian view that matter can be created by God out ong>ofong> nothing. It needs no prior matter for its creation. At ong>ong>theong>ong> same time, Philoponus transforms Aristotle's conception ong>ofong> prime matter as an incorporeal 'something - I know not what' that serves as ong>ong>theong>ong> ultimate subject for receiving extension and qualities. On ong>ong>theong>ong> contrary, says Philoponus, ong>ong>theong>ong> ultimate subject is extension. It is three-dimensional extension ong>withong> its exact dimensions and any qualities unspecified. Moreover, such extension is ong>ong>theong>ong> defining characteristic ong>ofong> body. Hence, so far from being incorporeal, it is body, and as well as being prime matter, it is form - ong>ong>theong>ong> form that constitutes body. This uses, but entirely disrupts, Aristotle's conceptual apparatus. Finally, in Aristotle's scheme ong>ofong> categories, this extension is not to be classified under ong>ong>theong>ong> second category ong>ofong> quantity, but under ong>ong>theong>ong> first category ong>ofong> substance as a substantial quantity.