Relative Change

Duncombe, Matthew

Abstract

A relative change occurs when some item changes a relation. This Element examines how Plato, Aristotle, Stoics and Sextus Empiricus approached relative change. Relative change is puzzling because the following three propositions each seem true but cannot be true together: (1) No relative changes are intrinsic changes; (2) Only intrinsic changes are proper changes; (3) Some relative changes are proper changes. Plato's Theaetetus and Phaedo property relative change. I argue that these dialogues assume relative changes to be intrinsic changes, so denying (1). Aristotle responds differently, by denying (3) that relative change is proper change. The Stoics claimed that some non-intrinsic changes are changes (denying (2)). Finally, I discuss Sextus' argument that relative change shows that there are no relatives at all.

Citation

Duncombe, M. (2020). Relative Change. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108581660

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Online Publication Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 24, 2020
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Series Title: Elements in Ancient Philosophy
• ISBN: 9781108713429
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108581660
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4922406
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/relative-change/4ED26B49A3275C8835F84EC42B69B8DC