The Aristotelian Arche-Decisions and the Challenge of Perishing

Abstract

The paper deals with Aristotle’s concept of corruption. First, it reconstructs Aristotle’s debate with the pre-Socratics and then it focuses on the candidates for entity that can perish: form, matter, and substance. The text argues against the widely accepted thesis according to which substance is a corruptio simpliciter without further ado. The paper intensely relies upon ancient and medieval commentators of Aristotle. Finally, special attention is devoted to the dimension of time and the problem of actuality.

Ovaj rad tematizuje Aristotelov pojam nestajanja. Prvo, rekonstruiše Aristotelovu raspravu da predsokratcima, zatim se fokusira na pojedine kandidate za entitete koji mogu da nestanu: formu, materiju i supstanciju. Tekst pruža argumente protiv široko prihaćene teze da je supstancija corruptio simpliciter bez ikakvih rezervi. Rad se o velikoj meri oslanja i na antičke i srednjovekovne komentatore Aristotela. Na kraju, uzima se u obzir i dimenzija vremena, odnosno aktualnosti.