Nicolaus Taurellus on Forms and Elements

Science in Context 27 (4):659-682 (2014)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

ArgumentThis article examines the conception of elements in the natural philosophy of Nicolaus Taurellus (1547–1606) and explores the theological motivation that stands behind this conception. By some of his early modern readers, Taurellus may have been understood as a proponent of material atoms. By contrast, I argue that considerations concerning the substantiality of the ultimate constituents of composites led Taurellus to an immaterialist ontology, according to which elements are immaterial forms that possess active and passive potencies as well as motion and extension. In Taurellus's view, immaterialism about elements provides support for the theological doctrine of creationex nihilo. As he argues, the ontology of immaterial forms helps to explicate a sense in which creatures are substances, not accidents of the divine substance. In particular, he maintains that immaterial forms stand in suitable relations of ontological dependence to God: creation dependence (since forms would not exist without the divine act of creation), but neither subsistence dependence (since forms continue to exist without continued divine agency) nor activity dependence (since forms are active without requiring divine concurrence).

Similar books and articles

Philosophiae triumphus: hoc est, metaphysica philosophandi methodus.Nicolaus Taurellus - 2010 - Stuttgart-Bad Cannstadt: Frommann-Holzboog. Edited by Henrik Wels.
Correspondance, articles condamnés.Nicolas D’Autrecourt - 2001 - Paris: J. Vrin. Edited by Lambertus Marie de Rijk & Christophe Grellard.
Nicolaus von Autrecourt: sein Leben, seine Philosophie, seine Schriften.Joseph Konrad Lappe & Nicolaus - 1908 - Münster: Aschendorffsche buchhandlung. Edited by Josef Lappe.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-09-03

Downloads
227 (#81,455)

6 months
67 (#57,721)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Andreas Blank
Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt

Citations of this work

Nicolaus Taurellus.Andreas Blank - 2012 - In Peter Adamson (ed.), Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. pp. 1-12.
Spigolature sulla "doppia verità".Sergio Landucci - 2021 - Rivista di Storia Della Filosofia 3:540-568.

Add more citations