On Location: Aristotele'S Concept Of Place

On Location is the first book in English exclusively devoted to a highly significant doctrine in the history of philosophy and science-Aristotle's account of place in the Physics. The central question which Aristotle aims to answer is: What is it for something to be somewhere? Ben Morison examines how Aristotle works from simple observations about replacement to a definition of the notion of the place of a body-the inner limit of that body's surroundings. This definition lies at the heart of what we say about places, for instance when we say that we cannot be in two places at once, or that two bodies cannot be in the same place at the same time. Morison also assesses Aristotle's brilliant, though often obscure, criticisms of rival theories. This authoritative exposition and defence of Aristotle's account of place not only allows it to be properly understood in the wider context of the Physics, but also demonstrates that it is of enduring philosophical interest and value. Review: Benjamin Morison's admirably clear and comprehensive monograph offers the untutored reader an excellent entry Mohan Matthen, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews A lucid, philosophically acute and admirably concise study of Aristotle's concept of place Verity Harte, Philosophical Quarterly An enlightening and engaging discussion. Verity Harte, Philosophical Quarterly It deserves to be read by everyone with an interest in Aristotle's account of place, and, more broadly, an interest in the manner in which Aristotle approaches the analysis of concepts central to his physical theory. Verity Harte, Philosophical Quarterly Table of Contents: Introduction; 1. Places, Natural Places, and the Power of Place; 2. Being In; 3. Zeno's Paradox of Place; 4. Three Possibilities for Place: Matter, Form, and Space; 5. Aristotle's Concept of Place; Bibliography, Index