Abstract

A relative change occurs when some item changes a relation. This Element examines how Plato, Aristotle, Stoics and Sextus Empiricus approached relative change. Relative change is puzzling because the following three propositions each seem true but cannot be true together: No relative changes are intrinsic changes; Only intrinsic changes are proper changes; Some relative changes are proper changes. Plato's Theaetetus and Phaedo property relative change. I argue that these dialogues assume relative changes to be intrinsic changes, so denying. Aristotle responds differently, by denying that relative change is proper change. The Stoics claimed that some non-intrinsic changes are changes ). Finally, I discuss Sextus' argument that relative change shows that there are no relatives at all.