Abstract

According to Cleary, Aristotle's theory of mathematics is a product of his general philosophical method, which begins with the opinions of his predecessors, articulates their problems, and proposes solutions. Since his predecessors, and especially Plato, were interested in the role of mathematics in cosmology, Aristotle's solution must provide answers to these same questions. Cleary studies Aristotle's reversal of the platonic primacy of mathematics over physics and considers its implications for his ontology and metaphysics.