Aristotle’s theory of matter

Fundamental qualities of terrestrial matter

Hot Cold Dry Wet

The doctrine of natural place

Fundamental difference between earth and heavens

 Aristotle’s physics of motion
Aristotle’s axiom: All motion requires a mover

Natural motion – doctrine of natural place

Vs.
Violent motion – animate vs inanimate bodies

For Aristotle (and for us) rest does not require an explanation. Is a natural state

Speed and force are mutually and directly proportional (v α F and F α v)

Speed is inversely proportional to resistance

(v α 1/R)
Aristotle criticized Eudoxus’s explanation of planetary motions

He ended up with 55 spheres

Two innovations introduced between
Aristotle and Ptolemy to improve fit
P
B
A

D F

The eccentric circle

Attributed to Apollonius of Perga ~20 -190 BCE)

Two innovations introduced between
Aristotle and Ptolemy to improve fit

The epicycle on deferent

 Questions
1. How do the Greeks contrast with the ancient Near Eastern thinkers regarding
explanations of the motions of the heavens?

2. Which of the Greek beliefs, if any, about how phenomena of the physical
world should be explained do we hold today?

3. Why, according to Aristotle, do bodies fall?

4. Why, according to Plato, must planetary motions be rationally explainable?

5. What aspects of Aristotle’s theory of motion do we accept today and

what do we reject?

6. Why has someone said: “Everybody is born either a Platonist or an Aristotelian”