The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong cover image

Something from Nothing

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong

00:00

Aristotle's Theory of 'Sponsored Generation'

In aristotle's metaphysics, a thing could only be changed or made or generated by another thing if it had the potential to be that thing. In for a carpenter to make a chair, they must not only set out with the purpose of making a chair, but the wood that they use must also have the potential for being a chair. For metal to be hot, it must both have the potential tobe hot and be acted upon by something which is already hot. The mystius couldn't square this with spontaneous generation. If bees came out of dead cows, where does the potential for bees come from, and what bee like thing acts upon it? Avaros found themist

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app