亞里斯多德論空間之不可變動性

Aristotle on the Immobility of Place

亞里斯多德在《物理學》第四卷透過「河流類比」描述事物x的空間為環繞其之事物y的「第一層不可變動的界線」。根據《物理學》前後脈絡，小貨船的空間應指環繞其之河水所構成的界線。然而，不少學者主張，由於河水一直在變動，小貨船的空間是不可變動的，不可能指那層直接與小貨船相接觸的河水是不可變動的；亞里斯多德必須「訴諸相對於整個河流」才能說明小貨船的空間是不可變動的。在這篇論文裡我希望為亞里斯多德辯護，他並未修正原先的立場，我將提供與《物理學》前後脈絡相容的詮釋，並為亞里斯多德重構一個素樸的空間論述。

In the river analogy (Physics 4.4, 212a14-21) Aristotle describes place as the first immovable limit of that which surrounds. But what does he mean by this? The context of Physics 4 suggests that the first immovable limit is the innermost surface of the water that surrounds the boat, as the equal size requirement and the contact requirement tell us. However, some believe that this cannot be the case, because the water that surrounds the boat constantly changes. They contend that the river analogy indicates that Aristotle, aware of this difficulty, has modified the above view by arguing that the place of the boat is said to be immobile in relation to the whole river (212a19-20). In this paper I maintain that Aristotle does not change his view. I will provide my reconstruction of the arguments in the river analogy and offer an austere account of Aristotle's place.