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A Penetrating Question In The History Of Ideas: Space, Dimensionality And Interpenetration In The Thought Of Avicenna, Jon Mcginnis
A Penetrating Question In The History Of Ideas: Space, Dimensionality And Interpenetration In The Thought Of Avicenna, Jon Mcginnis
Jon McGinnis
Avicenna's discussion of space is found in his comments on Aristotle's account of place. Aristotle identified four candidates for place: a body's matter, form, the occupied space, or the limits of the containing body, and opted for the last. Neoplatonic commentators argued contra Aristotle that a thing's place is the space it occupied. Space for these Neoplatonists is something possessing dimensions and distinct from any body that occupies it, even if never devoid of body. Avicenna argues that this Neoplatonic notion of space is untenable on the basis of three arguments. In general he maintains that bodies' impenetrability is explained …