Original scientific paper
UNIVOCITY OF QUANTITY AS A FUNDAMENTAL QUALITY OF PHISICS Reference to S. L. Jaki’s foundation of philosophy of science
Hrvoje Relja
; Department for Philosophy of the University of Zadar
Abstract
The paper is divided in two sections. In the first section Jaki’s
position is outlined, beginning with his understanding of quantity
which is based on Aristotle’s text in Categories 6a 25 where it
is said that “Quantity does not, it appears, admit of variation of
degree“. That characteristic of category of quantity which makes
its conception univocal is, according to Jaki, unique and therefore
radically differentiates quantity and makes it unconnectable with
the rest of the categories. That difference, our author stresses,
establishes the specific property of physico-mathematical science,
which is related exclusively to the quantitative, leaving the research
of the remaining categories to other sciences and areas of human
knowledge.
In the second part of the paper critique of the above mentioned
position is carried out showing that: first of all, according to Aristotle
the category of quantity is not the only category which does not
admit of variation of degree, and secondly, that the ontological
bond between quality and quantity is what makes material qualities
measurable, which is expressed by physical units that are the
foundation of physico-mathematical science.
Keywords
quantity; univocity; physico-mathematics; Aristotle; Stanley Lewis Jaki
Hrčak ID:
22872
URI
Publication date:
21.6.2007.
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