Astronomical Images : Elements of Aristotelian motion

Aristotle

Astronomical Images

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This work comprises Aristotle's <i>Physics</i> and Thomas Aquinas's commentary edited by the Augustinian, Timoteo Maffei of Verona (d. 1470). Aristotle discussed the nature of motion in the latter books of <i>Physics</i>, often referring to figures to elucidate his points. These figures were not always illustrated, and there was no traditional stock of figures like the wind diagrams or concentric circles associated with the Aristotelian analysis of motion. This edition makes an effort to supply such figures. In <i>Physics</i>, book 7, chapter 5, Aristotle shows that a force which can move a given load a certain distance in a certain time can move half the load either twice as far in the same time or the same distance in half the time. The figure shows the starting point of the argument, which defines the two hands labelled A as the moving agent, circle B as the mobile, C as the distance traversed and D, the bar below, as the time taken. (Aristotle, <i>Physics</i> VII.5.249b27-250a4, trans. Wicksteed and Cornford.)</p>