On Aristotle's Meteorology 4 (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle) by of Aphrodisias Alexander

by Alexander of Aphrodisias

Aristotle's Meteorology Book 4 provides an account of the formation of minerals, metals, and other homogeneous stuffs. Eric Lewis argues that, in doing so, it offers fresh insight into Aristotle's conception of matter. The four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) do have matter, and their matter is the contraries - hot and cold, moist and dry. Lewis further argues that in the text translated here, the only extant ancient commentary on the Meteorology, Alexander of Aphrodisias supports this interpretation of Aristotle. Such a conception of matter complements the account given at an earlier point in the corpus of Aristotle's works in On Generation and Corruption, and is confirmed by the account at later points in the biological works, although it adds further detail. Meteorology 4 emerges as an important book. Alexander's commentary is here translated into English for the first time.

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Peripatetic philosopher and the most celebrated of the Ancient Greek commentators on the writings of Aristotle. He was a native of Aphrodisias in Caria, and lived and taught in Athens at the beginning of the 3rd century, where he held a position as head of the Peripatetic school.