On Generation and Corruption
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+ | '''''On Generation and Corruption''''' {{lang-grc|Περὶ γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς}}, {{lang-la|De Generatione et Corruptione}}, also known as ''On Coming to Be and Passing Away'') is a treatise by [[Aristotle]]. Like many of his texts, it is both scientific and philosophic (although not necessarily scientific in the modern sense). The philosophy, though, is essentially [[empiricism|empirical]]; as in [[Corpus_Aristotelicum|all]] Aristotle's works, the deductions made about the unexperienced and unobservable are based on observations and real experiences. | ||
- | In [[philosophy|philosophical]], [[theology|theological]], or moral discussions, '''corruption''' often refers to spiritual or moral impurity, or deviation from an ideal. Frequently, this takes the form of contrasting a pure spiritual form with a corrupted manifestation in the physical world. Many philosophers, in fact, have regarded the physical world as inevitably corrupt ([[Plato]] being the most famous example of this school of thought). | + | The question raised at the beginning of the text builds on an idea from Aristotle's earlier work ''[[Physics_(Aristotle)|The Physics]]''. Namely, whether things come into being through causes, through some prime material, or whether everything is generated purely through "alteration." |
- | Another philosophical use of the term "corruption" is in opposition to "generation," as in [[Aristotle's]] book ''[[On Generation and Corruption]]'' also known as ''On Coming to Be and Passing Away''. In this sense, corruption is the process of ceasing to exist and is closely related to the concept of dying given certain views about the nature of living things. | + | From this important work Aristotle gives us two of his most remembered contributions. First, the [[Four_causes|Four Causes]] and also the [[Four Elements]] (earth, wind, fire and water). He uses these four elements to provide an explanation for the theories of other Greeks concerning [[Atomism|atoms]], an idea Aristotle considered absurd. |
- | In a moral sense, corruption generally refers to [[decadence]] or [[hedonism]]. | + | ==Bibliography== |
+ | *The most recent and authoritative[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2006/2006-11-03.html] Greek text is the [[Collection Budé|Budé edition]] by Marwan Rashed, ''Aristote. De la géneration et la corruption. Nouvelle édition.'' Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2005. ISBN 2-251-00527-7. This edition includes a French translation, notes and appendices, and a lengthy introduction exploring the treatise's contents and the history of the text. | ||
- | In theological or political debates, certain viewpoints are sometimes accused of being corruptions of orthodox systems of belief, which is to say, they are accused of having deviated from some older correct view. | ||
- | |||
- | ==See also== | ||
- | *[[Orthodoxy]] | ||
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On Generation and Corruption Template:Lang-grc, Template:Lang-la, also known as On Coming to Be and Passing Away) is a treatise by Aristotle. Like many of his texts, it is both scientific and philosophic (although not necessarily scientific in the modern sense). The philosophy, though, is essentially empirical; as in all Aristotle's works, the deductions made about the unexperienced and unobservable are based on observations and real experiences.
The question raised at the beginning of the text builds on an idea from Aristotle's earlier work The Physics. Namely, whether things come into being through causes, through some prime material, or whether everything is generated purely through "alteration."
From this important work Aristotle gives us two of his most remembered contributions. First, the Four Causes and also the Four Elements (earth, wind, fire and water). He uses these four elements to provide an explanation for the theories of other Greeks concerning atoms, an idea Aristotle considered absurd.
Bibliography
- The most recent and authoritative[1] Greek text is the Budé edition by Marwan Rashed, Aristote. De la géneration et la corruption. Nouvelle édition. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2005. ISBN 2-251-00527-7. This edition includes a French translation, notes and appendices, and a lengthy introduction exploring the treatise's contents and the history of the text.