The Motionless Arrow: Aristotles Thoughts On Zenos Arror Argument :: essays research papers

The Motionless arrow Aristotles Thoughts on Zenos Arror furrow     Aristotles thoughts on Zenos Arrow Argument as represented in Chapter9 of Aristotles Physics A Guided Study can be mute in such a way that itmight non be "next door to madness". In this chapter, Aristotle interpretsZenos argument of the Flying Arrow as "missing the mark". There be four expound for this argument, and in Aristotles opinion, premise three can berejected. He does not believe that time is serene of indivisible nows, whichhe proves with laws of science. However, by evaluating the inconstancy of premisethree, you go out find that premise one and two argon also false. Almost allopinions can be argued, however, and by evaluating the ism of both men,many points can be reached about the validity and sapience of the argument.Though, by finding the premises false, the argument is not sound, and therefore,Zenos argument leaves a good deal to be said.   &nb sp Deciphering from what we know of the argument by what Aristotle tells usin Chapter 9, the premises are sketched out1. Everything is at rest when at a clothe equal to it2. The Flying arrow is at rest when at a place equal to it3. Time is smooth of indivisible nows (instants).4. Everything that changes place is doing so in the now.5. Conclusion The flying arrow doesnt move.According to Zeno, time is placid of many indivisible nows, or instants.Aristotle disagrees, stating in line 210 that no magnitude, including time, iscomposed of indivisible nows. Exactly how long is an instant? Is time finite?As you start dividing time, the smaller you get, the less movement occurs. Buteven when you do divide it smaller and smaller, is there not at least virtually smallamount of movement occurring? When will time get so small that movement doesnot occur? This is Aristotles reasoning that time will never get to a"smallest" point, as length will never have a "smallest" divi sion. Therefore,he is rejecting the third premise, stating that time is not composed ofindivisible segments.     Zeno, however, feels that time can be divided into a "smallest" part. later on all, in physics, you can determine an objects instantaneous velocity orspeedup at a special(prenominal) point in its journey, at a specific time. Wouldntthis make time indivisible?Velocity and acceleration are given to mean motion, which means theobject is moving at this specific point in time. Therefore, according toAristotle, this paradox would not be so if it were not taken that time werecomposed of nows.By rejecting this premise, and reevaluating the argument, you will evidence