Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §19.1

The Universal Definition of Motion and Activity

Passage 7 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Theophrastus, in the first book of his Physics, defines motion as a certain incomplete activity of the potential in each genus of the categories, and asserts the need to investigate whether motions are to be distinguished into motions proper and activities.

§19.1Fr. 19 Θ. ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ Φυσικῶν καὶ καθʼ ἕκαστον γένος τῶν κατηγοριῶν τὴν κίνησιν θεωρεῖσθαί φησι γράφων οὕτως· περὶ δὲ κινήσεως τὸν μὲν καθόλου καὶ κοινὸν λόγον οὐ χαλεπὸν ἀποδοῦναι καὶ εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἐνέργειά τίς ἐστιν ἀτελὴς τοῦ δυνάμει ὄντος ᾗ τοιοῦτον καθʼ ἕκαστον γένος τῶν κατηγοριῶν διὸ καὶ προελθὼν ὀλίγον ὁ Θ. ζητεῖν δεῖν φησὶ περὶ τῶν κνήσεων, εἰ αἱ μὲν κινήσεις εἰσὶν αἱ δὲ ὥσπερ ἐνέργειαί τινες.
Fr. 19 Theophrastus says in the first book of his Physics that motion is also observed in each genus of the categories, writing as follows: "On the one hand, regarding motion, it is not difficult to render and state the universal and common definition, namely that it is a certain incomplete activity of that which exists potentially, insofar as it is such, in each genus of the categories." Therefore, also proceeding a little further, Theophrastus says that one must investigate regarding motions, whether some are motions and others are as it were certain activities.

Notes

  1. §19.1τὴν κίνησιν θεωρεῖσθαι — An accusative with infinitive construction (accusative τὴν κίνησιν + infinitive θεωρεῖσθαι) introduced by the main verb φησι (he says), forming indirect speech.
  2. §19.1ᾗ τοιοῦτον — An expression derived from Aristotle's definition of motion in Physics (201a10-11: ᾗ τοιοῦτον). The relative adverb ᾗ specifies the aspect ('insofar as'), and the demonstrative τοιοῦτον refers back to the potential being (τοῦ δυνάμει ὄντος), meaning 'insofar as it is such (i.e., potential)'.
  3. §19.1εἰ αἱ μὲν κινήσεις εἰσὶν αἱ δὲ ὥσπερ ἐνέργειαί τινες — The conjunction εἰ introduces an indirect question ('whether'). The correlatives αἱ μὲν and αἱ δὲ refer back to the preceding plural genitive περὶ τῶν κινήσεων (regarding motions), exploring whether, among motions in a broad sense, some are indeed motions (kinesis in the narrow sense) while others are as it were actualities (energeia).

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §19.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:19.1

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