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Aristotle on Substance, Accident and Plato's Forms

Aristotle on Substance, Accident and Plato's Forms 146 Aristotle on Substance, Accident and Plato's Forms JULIA ANNAS t t Metaphysics 990 b 27-991 a 8 (= 1079 a 19-b 3) there is a very puzzling argument of Aristotle's against Platonic Forms. Aristotle is trying to embarrass the Platonists with a contra- diction in their theory. On the one hand they want to say that there are Forms not only of substances but also of accidents of substances (qualities, relations, etc.) On the other hand, they are committed to the belief that there are Forms only of substances. The contradiction shows that they should give up at least one of the beliefs concerned. Clearly, however, Aristotle thinks that a more radical response is called for, namely, rejection of the theory of Forms altogether. Aristotle's dilemma has not been thought a compelling one. The first horn is supported convincingly enough; he appeals to two Aca- demy proofs, but he could as well have pointed to famous passages in Plato's dialogues, where there are Forms of Beauty, Equal, Just and other qualities and relations.2 It is the second horn of the dilemma that causes the trouble, since Aristotle does not (and could not) claim that the Platonists themselves http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Phronesis Brill

Aristotle on Substance, Accident and Plato's Forms

Annas, Julia
Phronesis , Volume 22 (2-3): 146 – Jan 1, 1977
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1977 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0031-8868
eISSN
1568-5284
DOI
10.1163/156852877X00047
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

146 Aristotle on Substance, Accident and Plato's Forms JULIA ANNAS t t Metaphysics 990 b 27-991 a 8 (= 1079 a 19-b 3) there is a very puzzling argument of Aristotle's against Platonic Forms. Aristotle is trying to embarrass the Platonists with a contra- diction in their theory. On the one hand they want to say that there are Forms not only of substances but also of accidents of substances (qualities, relations, etc.) On the other hand, they are committed to the belief that there are Forms only of substances. The contradiction shows that they should give up at least one of the beliefs concerned. Clearly, however, Aristotle thinks that a more radical response is called for, namely, rejection of the theory of Forms altogether. Aristotle's dilemma has not been thought a compelling one. The first horn is supported convincingly enough; he appeals to two Aca- demy proofs, but he could as well have pointed to famous passages in Plato's dialogues, where there are Forms of Beauty, Equal, Just and other qualities and relations.2 It is the second horn of the dilemma that causes the trouble, since Aristotle does not (and could not) claim that the Platonists themselves

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Phronesis – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1977

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