de Generatione et Corruptione
330b31-331a23
- The simple bodies, since there are
four, fall into two pairs which belong to the two regions, each
to
each; for Fire and Air are forms of the body moving towards the
limit,
while Earth and Water are forms of the body which moves towards
the
center. Fire and Earth, moreover, are the extremes and purest;
Water
and Air, on the contrary, are intermediates and more combined.
And,
further, the members of either pair are contrary to those of the
other, Water being contrary to Fire and Earth to Air; for they
are
constituted from contrary qualities. Nevertheless, since they
are four,
each of them is characterized simply by a single quality; Earth
by dry
rather than by cold, Water by cold rather than by moist, Air by
moist
rather than by hot, and Fire by hot rather than by dry.
- It has been established before
that
the coming-to-be of the simple bodies is reciprocal, At the same
time,
it is manifest, on the evidence of perception, that they do
come-to-be;
for otherwise there would not have been alteration since
alteration is
change in respect to the qualities of the objects of touch.
Consequently, we must explain what is the manner of their
reciprocal
transformation, and whether every one of them can come-to-be out
of
every one--or whether some can do so, but not others.
- Now it is evident that all
of
them are by nature such as to change into one another; for
coming-to-be
is a change into contraries and out of contraries, and the
elements all
involve a contrariety in their mutual relations, because their
distinctive qualities are contrary. For in some of them both
qualities
are contrary--e.g. in Fire and Water, the first of these being
dry and
hot, and the second moist and cold; while in others one of the
qualities is contrary--e.g. in Air and Water, the first being
moist and
hot, and the second moist and cold. It is evident, therefore ,
if we
consider them in general, that every one is by nature such as
to
come-to-be out of every one; and when we come to consider them
severally, it is not difficult to see the manner in which
their
transformation is effected. For, though all will result from
all, both
the speed and the facility of their conversion will differ in
degree.
This passage is about the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and
Water.
It is relatively straightforward and does not seem to me to require
extensive notes and analysis on my part. There are some big
questions
about how what he talks about could actually work, but it seems to
me
what he is saying is relatively clear.