Philoponus

In one of the most original books of late antiquity Philoponus argues for the Christian view that matter can be created by God out of nothing. It needs no prior matter for its creation. At the same time Philoponus transforms Aristotle's conception of prime matter as an incorporeal 'something - I know not what' that serves as the ultimate subject for receiving extension and qualities. On the contrary says Philoponus the ultimate subject is extension. It is three-dimensional extension with its exact dimensions and any qualities unspecified. Moreover such extension is the defining characteristic of body. Hence so far from being incorporeal it is body and as well as being prime matter it is form - the form that constitutes body. This uses but entirely disrupts Aristotle's conceptual apparatus. Finally in Aristotle's scheme of categories this extension is not to be classified under the second category of quantity but under the first category of substance as a substantial quantity. This volume contains an English translation of Philoponus' commentary detailed notes and introduction and a bibliography.