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    Matter lacks reason (is alogos). — Carmelics
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    Matter lacks reason (is alogos).

    Against an attribute of GodDivine Attributes
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Matter lacks form and quality.
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    • 2.Lack of form amounts to lack of reason for Numenius.
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
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    • 1.The Stoics identified matter as one of two co-eternal principles, with pneuma (rational breath) permeating and structuring it from within.
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    • 2.If matter is always already interpenetrated by logos in Stoic physics, Numenius's sharp dualism between alogos matter and rational principle is historically contestable.
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    • 3.Numenius's own Middle Platonist synthesis draws on Stoic sources, creating internal tension in his claim that matter is wholly devoid of reason.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
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    • 1.For Aristotle, matter is the substrate of potentiality, and potentiality is itself a principle of rational intelligible structure.
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    • 2.If matter grounds the possibility of form, it participates in logos as a necessary precondition rather than standing wholly outside it.
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    Divine AttributesAgainst an attribute of God

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    2 topics

    Proof of definition segments1 linkedTruth & Knowledge1 linked

    Related

    For Aristotle, matter is the substrate of potentiality, and potentiality is itse...If matter grounds the possibility of form, it participates in logos as a necessa...If matter is always already interpenetrated by logos in Stoic physics, Numenius'...Lack of form amounts to lack of reason for Numenius.
    +3 moreShow less
    Matter lacks form and quality.Numenius's own Middle Platonist synthesis draws on Stoic sources, creating inter...The Stoics identified matter as one of two co-eternal principles, with pneuma (r...

    Similar

    God does not make arbitrary decisions without sufficient reason (Princ...72%Causal reasoning alone does not establish the personal or religious pr...69%God is a cause of being and acts without being acted upon68%The First Cause has no causes through which it could be known.68%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: numenius
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    Such an argument shows that Numenius has strong views about the ontological status of matter, the basis, he supposes, of all bodies (fr. 4b.25). In his 4th c. CE Latin commentary on the Timaeus Calcidius presents a long discussion about the status of matter (In Timaeum p. 297.7-301.20 Waszink), claiming that this is based on Numenius (fr. 52.2). If Numenius did elaborate on the status of matter along the lines suggested in Calcidius, that must be because it was crucial to do so for his argument
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit