Abstract
I offer a new interpretation of Aristotle's philosophy of geometry, which he presents in greatest detail in Metaphysics M 3. On my interpretation, Aristotle holds that the points, lines, planes, and solids of geometry belong to the sensible realm, but not in a straightforward way. Rather, by considering Aristotle's second attempt to solve Zeno's Runner Paradox in Book VIII of the Physics, I explain how such objects exist in the sensibles in a special way. I conclude by considering the passages that lead Jonathan Lear to his fictionalist reading of Met. M3,1 and I argue that Aristotle is here describing useful heuristics for the teaching of geometry; he is not pronouncing on the meaning of mathematical talk.
| Translated title of the contribution | Aristotle on the subject matter of geometry |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Pages (from-to) | 239 - 260 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Phronesis |
| Volume | 54 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Research Groups and Themes
- Centre for Science and Philosophy