Heidegger

Jan Straathof wrote:

>> “Thus, there is a science distinct from these which is concerned WITH
>> SEPARATE AND IMMOVABLE BEING, IF INDEED THERE EXISTS SUCH A SUBSTANCE,
>> that is, one which is separate and immovable, as we shall try to show.
>> And if indeed there is such a nature in things, the divine, too, would
>> be here if anywhere, and this nature would be the primary and most
>> dominant principle.” (a31-b2)
>
> Anthony, would this last sentence indicate that Aristotle is a pantheist
> (cf. “such a nature *in* things”); interesting, never thought of him that way.

Perhaps Michael can give us the Greek for that line - the only other
translation I have at hand says, “And if there is such a kind of thing
IN THE WORLD, here must be the divine…” He would then simply mean, “if
indeed there is such a nature AMONG things” - i.e., whether among all
existing beings, there is also this kind of being (separate and
immovable) in addition to physical beings. Aristotle explicitly states
that this “separate and immovable” being is NOT a physical being (a
being studied by physics).

Posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 10:25 pm
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