Střední prvek a Aristotelova katalogizace přírodních filosofů

Pavel Hobza

In his discussions of the Ionian philosophers of nature, Aristotle several times mentions a „middle element“ (e.g. between fire and air). The idea has mostly been ascribed to Anaximander; however, it seems likely that Aristotle sees it as primarily linked to Anaxagoras. An examination of the texts can further show that the distinction between Monists and Pluralists is sometimes getting conflated; thus, the very starting point of Aristotle’s approach becomes problematic, based as it is on Aristotelian concepts like archę and stoicheion.