Aristotle's theory of time

Abstract

Aristotle's discussion on time in the Physics, principally in chapter IV 10-14, remains a classic source of argument for philosophers and historians of science. His significance for the history of philosophy of science rests on two fundamental achievements. First, he developed a comprehensive philosophical system which overshadowed anything in ancient times and when rediscovered in the 12th Century A.O., he fashioned the medieval world view. Second, Aristotle developed a method of scientific investigation. He was, in effect, the first philosopher of science; the first to study the logic of scientific reasoning and investigation. Aristotle was associated with Plato for over twenty years both as a student and as a colleague. His own views reflect his Platonic heritage, although he rejects both the details and the spirit of the Platonic world view. Is time separable from change? Is time continuous and does it flow? What objection does Aristotle give to the identification of time with respect to the revolution of the heaven and the heaven itself? What is the relation between time and number? And more importantly what is Aristotle's definition of time? As we shall see, Aristotle's discussion on time focuses on three key problems: (1) Does time exist? (2) What is the nature of the present instant, the now as Aristotle calls it? And (3) what is the nature of time itself? Aristotle's chief concerns are the nature of the present, the reality of time, and the relations between time and movement that he evidently takes to show time both real and measurable and these are precisely the main issues in his argument on which we shall focus our attention on.