Empedocles and the other Physiologists in Aristotle's Physics II 8

In this paper I propose to show: 1) that in Phys. II 8 Aristotle takesEmpedocles as a paradigm for a theoretical position common to allphilosophers who preceded him: the view that materialism impliesa mechanistic explanation of natural becoming; and 2) that, since Empedoclesis regarded as a philosopher who clearly expresses the position ofall mechanistic materialists, Aristotle builds his teleological argumentsprecisely to refute him. Indeed, Aristotle believes that refuting the argumentsof Empedocles – the champion of mechanism – means refuting the mechanistic theory itself. In order to illustrate this point, I willdiscuss some passages from Phys. II 8, while also turning to consider theNeoplatonic commentators on Aristotle’s Physics. I will then endeavourto explain why in 198b19 ff. Aristotle formulates the argument ofrain, which has attracted so much attention from scholars of the Physics:I will consider whether Aristotle believes that rain serves a purpose,contrary to what he claims with regard to meteorological phenomena inMeteorologica.