Theories of Matter in Greek Philosophy希腊哲学中的物质理论.pptVIP

Aristotle on the Heavens The elements are arranged by gravity into perfect spheres: earth, then water, air, and fire A fifth element (quintessence) is found in the heavens: the aether Heavenly bodies travel through the ether in perfect spheres World divided into animal, vegetable, and mineral Aristotle on the Elements Five elements (stoichea) are continuous substances, althought they do have a natura minima (minimal size); anything else would be cuttable No such thing as a void (no space between): Objects must travel through a medium or they would move infinitely fast A void is a logical impossibility (since we can speak of it, it must be something, not nothing) Metals are made of sulfur and mercury and can age in the earth and transmute into gold St. Thomas Aquinas Combined Aristotle’s model of the elements with Ptolemy’s model of the heavens This “Summa Theologica” became Catholic dogma and set back science for 500 years Heavens were perfect spheres with Earth at center Beyond the celestial sphere was the realm of God and angels, who moved the heavens like a vast machine Epicurus (c. 300 B.C.) Atomist: “Nothing but atoms and the void” Elimination of pain is the highest goal A simple life well lived Associated with hedonism and condemned Epicurus suffered from kidney stones Titus Lucretius Carus: “De Rerum Natura” defends atomic theory (ring, steps, etc.) The Four-Fold Democritus(Christoph Lüthy) Father of atomic theory Father of Alchemy: Physica et Mystica translated by Domenico Pizzimenti in 1573 Probably compiled by Bolus of Mendes in 2nd Century B.C. (Psuedo-Democritus) The Laughing Philosopher Cheerful disposition Life is random; you must either cry or laugh Heraclitus as antitype: one weeping and one laughing The mocker and the radical The Tutor of Hippocrates Bogus letters c. 50 B.C. from a physician at Kos translated by Rinuccio Aretino in 1450 Some letters tell of Hippocrates visiting Abdera to cure the “mad” Democritus Sitting under a tree with a book,