Philosophical Inquiry

Volume 43, Issue 1/2, Winter/Spring 2019

In Honor of Alexander P. D. Mourelatos

John Bowin
Pages 147-164

Aristotle’s Physics 5.1, 225a1-b5

This contribution offers an interpretation of the last half of chapter 1 of book 5 of Aristotle’s Physics in the form of a commentary. Among other things, it attempts an explanation of why Aristotle calls the termini of changes ‘something underlying’ (ὑποκείμενον) and ‘something not underlying’ (μὴ ὑποκείμενον). It also provides an analysis of Aristotle’s argument for the claim that what is not simpliciter does not change in the light of this interpretation.