Title

Alexander on Form-in-Matter and the Breakdown of Aristotle's Categories

Authors

John O. Ellis, University of MemphisFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-28-1992

Abstract

My discussion is divided into six sections. In the first I provide some background to the form-in-matter problem in Aristotle; the second focusses on Alexander's solution to the problem; in the third, we consider Plotinus' contribution; in the fourth, there's brief treatment of the problem by the commentators on the Categories; and finally in the fifth section I look at what I call the 'Lucius problem' - this pertains directly to the substantial qualities doctrine, and it reveals, I suggest, how Alexander's way of solving the form-in-matter problem contributes to the breakdown of Aristotelian categories. In the sixth section I suggest how the two issues are connected.

Notes

John Ellis presented “Alexander and the Breakdown of Aristotle’s Categories” to the Society at its meeting with the Eastern Division in Washington DC, December 1992. A revised version was published as "Alexander's Defense of Aristotle's Categories" in Phronesis 39.1 (1994) 69-89. That version is available on JSOR.

For information about the author see:https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/lits/2014/04/18/john-ellis-interim-deputy-cio-lits/

Recommended Citation

Ellis, John O., "Alexander on Form-in-Matter and the Breakdown of Aristotle's Categories" (1992). The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter. 180.
https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp/180