Earth, Wind, and Fire: Aristotle on Violent Storm Events, with Reconsideration of the Terms epsilon kappa nu epsilon phi iota alpha sigma, tau upsilon phi omega nu, kappa epsilon rho alpha upsilon nu omicron sigma, and pi rho eta sigma tau eta rho

Graham, Daniel W.; Herzog, Zachary und Williams, Michael (2022): Earth, Wind, and Fire: Aristotle on Violent Storm Events, with Reconsideration of the Terms epsilon kappa nu epsilon phi iota alpha sigma, tau upsilon phi omega nu, kappa epsilon rho alpha upsilon nu omicron sigma, and pi rho eta sigma tau eta rho. In: Apeiron - A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science, Bd. 55, Nr. 3: S. 417-442

Abstract

Recent studies of Aristotle's meteorology have often focused on questions of scientific methodology rather than on the empirical accuracy of the explanations. Here we wish to focus on Aristotle's theory of storms, considering them in their historical context and in light of Aristotle's theoretical commitments, but testing them in terms of their ability to explain the phenomena in question. Aristotle's approach to storm events follows a general pattern of outburst theories proposed by Presocratic thinkers, in which wind, fire, and the like burst out of clouds. Aristotle proposes a two-exhalation theory in which a dry and a moist gas arise by evaporation and can conflict with each other. In Meteorologica II.9 and III.1, he provides his own theory of storms. Modern accounts are hampered by a mistranslation of 'eknephias' as hurricane. We argue that an eknephias is never a hurricane, but in the first place a theoretical construct meant to account for three distinct phenomena: tuphon, keraunos, and prester, all of which need to be identified more clearly with actual meteorological phenomena than they have been. We identify appropriate phenomena and also propose a phenomenon corresponding to eknephias, which makes sense of Aristotle's account.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Philosophie, Wissenschaftstheorie und Religionswissenschaft
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 100 Philosophie
• ISSN: 0003-6390
• Sprache: Englisch