De mixtione XVI: on Growth

Pavel GregoriÄ; PÃ©ter Lautner

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Chapter 11 De mixtione XVI: on Growth

In: Studies on Alexander of Aphrodisiasâ On Mixture and Growth

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Pavel GregoriÄ

Pavel GregoriÄ
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PÃ©ter Lautner

PÃ©ter Lautner
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 231â262

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004686021_012

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Abstract

In Chapter XVI Alexander investigates whether the Stoic notion of body going through body is applicable to the phenomenon of biological growth. If anything, growth through nutrition seems to recommend this Stoic notion. However, in Chapter XVI Alexander develops an Aristotelian explanation of growth, which is more convincing and does not rely on the Stoic notion. Since the Stoic notion of body going through body has been shown to be problematic in the earlier chapters of De mixtione, and the final chapter discards its utility even for an explanation of growth, we argue that the outcome of the treatise is that the Stoic notion should be abandoned. In this contribution we divide Alexanderâs text in 9 sections and analyse it section by section, availing ourselves of other relevant texts, such as Aristotleâs De generatione et corruptione I 5, Quaestio I 5 attributed to Alexander, and his Commentary on Aristotleâs Meteorology IV. In the Appendix we discuss four points: (1) it is the nutritive capacity of the soul that is the efficient, formal and final cause of nourishment, (2) diminution in old age is due to the decreasing rate of absorption of digested nutriment, (3) for any episode of growth, some bit of matter needs to remain through it, which makes replacement of bodily ingredients a gradual process, (4) Chapter XVI is not extraneous to De mixtione or tucked at the end of it for want of a better place, as some scholars have suggested, but an integral part of the treatise at its right place.

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Studies on Alexander of Aphrodisiasâ On Mixture and Growth

Series:Â Philosophia Antiqua, Volume: 170

Cover Studies on Alexander of Aphrodisiasâ <i>On Mixture and Growth</i>

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004686021

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 15 Nov 2023

Subjects
- Classical Studies
  - Ancient Philosophy
- Philosophy
  - Ancient Philosophy
  - Epistemology & Metaphysics

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Chapter 11 De mixtione XVI: on Growth

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