Workshop in Ancient Philosophy (Thursday - Week 1, MT23)

Chair: Teddy Jennings

I examine Aristotle’s inquiry on void in Physics IV 6-9 and find that Aristotle has a considered method for proving nonexistence claims. I find that this method for proving nonexistence is a counterpart of the method for proving existence that Aristotle outlines in An. Post. II 1-2. By analyzing the application of this counterpart method in Physics IV 6-9, I find that both (i) Aristotle has certain considered grounds for saying what a nonexistent thing like void is or would be in order to prove that such a thing does not exist, and (ii) Aristotle can demonstrate the nonexistence of something using his own logic without violating the existence entailments of that logic.