Staunch vs. Faint-hearted Hylomorphism: Toward an Aristotelian Account of Composition

Koons, Robert C.

doi:10.11612/resphil.2014.91.2.1

Cited by 44 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…My new metaphysical model combines the primitive ontology of Bohmian mechanics put forward by Goldstein et al ( 2005a , b ) with a contemporary adaptation of Aristotle’s hylomorphic theory of substances proposed by Koons ( 2018 , 2014 ), to produce a powerist account of the temporal development of the primitive distribution of matter. The core of my model, which I shall call Cosmic Hylomorphism , may be laid out in four axioms: There are ‘Power-Atoms’, which exercise causal powers to change their velocities in response to their spatial configuration.…”

Section: Cosmic Hylomorphism Proposedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmic hylomorphism

Simpson

2021

Euro Jnl Phil Sci

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The primitive ontology approach to quantum mechanics seeks to account for quantum phenomena in terms of a distribution of matter in three-dimensional space (or four-dimensional spacetime) and a law of nature that describes its temporal development. This approach to explaining quantum phenomena is compatible with either a Humean or powerist account of laws. In this paper, I offer a powerist ontology in which the law is specified by Bohmian mechanics for a global configuration of particles. Unlike in other powerist ontologies, however, this law is not grounded in a structural power that is instantiated by the global configuration. Instead, I combine the primitive ontology approach with Aristotle’s doctrine of hylomorphism to create a new metaphysical model, in which the cosmos is a hylomorphic substance with an intrinsic power to choreograph the trajectories of the particles.

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Section: Cosmic Hylomorphism Proposedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmic hylomorphism

Simpson

2021

Euro Jnl Phil Sci

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“…The non-homonymous parts of an organism, such as its molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles, are only potential or virtual parts: they exist only as potential products of division or death, and as metaphysically derivative, localized aspects of the powers and potentialities of the whole substance. The powers and potentialities of these virtual parts are wholly grounded in the substantial organism as a whole (see Koons 2014).…”

Section: Organisms As Paradigm Substancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal substances: a Neo-Aristotelian ontology of the quantum world

Koons

2019

Synthese

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The paper addresses a problem for the unification of quantum physics with the new Aristotelianism: the identification of the members of the category of substance (ousia). I outline briefly the role that substance plays in Aristotelian metaphysics, leading to the postulating of the Tiling Constraint. I then turn to the question of which entities in quantum physics can qualify as Aristotelian substances. I offer an answer: the theory of thermal substances, and I construct a fivefold case for thermal substances, based on the irreversibility of time, the definition of thermodynamic concepts, spontaneous symmetry breaking, phase transitions, and chemical form.

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“…However, hylomorphism is not coextensive with dispositionalism, for it usually entails the defense of a unifying and essential ground of a thing's dispositional properties: substantial form. Furthermore, contemporary hylomorphism is a variety show, ranging between "staunch" and "faint-hearted" versions (Koons 2014). The "fainthearted" versions selectively or completely deny the following: a power ontology, a sparse view of both fundamental entities and powers, and the existence of fundamental essences and 32 See Groff and Greco 2013, p. 3; see also French 2014, p. 248ff. properties.…”

Section: Powers Dispositions and The New Aristotelianismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…35 Therefore, this problem must be addressed first in natural philosophy. Consequently, and second, the solution to the Eleatic paradox governs the solution to 33 In particular, the hylomorphist must address concerns of dispositional monism (Bird 2010) or other versions of hylomorphism; for such replies, see Oderberg 2011, and Koons 2014. 34 Koons 2018a helpfully discusses the last three issues.…”

Section: Motivating Hylomorphismmentioning

confidence: 99%

World enough and form: why cosmology needs hylomorphism

Brungardt

2019

Synthese

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This essay proposes a comprehensive blueprint for the hylomorphic foundations of cosmology. The key philosophical explananda in cosmology are those dealing with global processes and structures, the regularity of global regularities, and the existence of the global as such. The possibility of elucidating these using alternatives to hylomorphism is outlined and difficulties with these alternatives are raised. Hylomorphism, by contrast, provides a sound philosophical ground for cosmology insofar as it leads to notions of cosmic essence, the unity of complex essences, and globally emergent properties. These are used as the basis to account for the aforementioned cosmological explananda and to resolve two problems in the philosophy of cosmology: the meta-law dilemma and the uniqueness of the universe. In summary, cosmology needs hylomorphism because it is able to ground cosmology's efforts as a scientific inquiry. It can do so because hylomorphism philosophically accounts for changing substances and aggregates of substances, the various scales of law-governed behavior measured by the natures of those substances, and how those substances as parts relate to the universe as a whole.Title Page with all author information John G. Brungardt; forthcoming in Synthese. This manuscript is for personal use. Cite only from the published manuscript. World enough and form: Why cosmology needs hylomorphismAttending to its recent developments, and taking a long view of the history of the discipline during the twentieth century, it is no longer wise to ask whether modern cosmology has need of philosophy and answer in the negative. 1 Cosmology needs philosophy. More controversially, however, cosmology needs a particular philosophy, the one that defends hylomorphism.Hylomorphism is a general account of changing and changeable beings that appeals to a complementary pair of explanatory principles of change: a determining form (morphe) and determinable matter (hyle). In what follows, we offer a systematic blueprint for the hylomorphic foundation of cosmology. This hylomorphic foundation grounds the possibility of global regularities and structures, the regularity of global regularities, and the existence of the global as such. We obtain these results by arguing that the universe is a whole whose members are substances; that the universe at the global scale exhibits law-governed behaviors; and that the universe is not merely an aggregate of substances but a system, a unity of order.The original proponent of hylomorphism noted that in order to articulate a philosophical topic well, the matter at hand must be clarified in itself, done so in a way "so as to solve the difficulties" that belong to the topic, and lastly one must "[make] apparent the cause of the perplexity and of the difficulties about it. For thus most beautifully would each thing be shown" (Aristotle 2004; 211a7-12). We adopt this method in proposing an affirmative answer to our question: Does cosmology need hylomorphism? We begin by introducing the idea of a philosophy of natu...

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Staunch vs. Faint-hearted Hylomorphism: Toward an Aristotelian Account of Composition

Cited by 44 publications

References 12 publications

Cosmic hylomorphism

Cosmic hylomorphism

Thermal substances: a Neo-Aristotelian ontology of the quantum world

World enough and form: why cosmology needs hylomorphism

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