Teleology at Its Limits: Elemental Motion in Plato and Aristotle

The project investigates the relation between elemental motion (motion of earth, water, air and fire) and teleology in Plato and Aristotle in a comparative manner. While both philosophers defend teleology regarding the universe as a whole, it is less evident whether they intend teleology to extend to elemental motion, the most basic of physical changes. By looking into how they, through different approaches, incorporate elemental motion into a teleological cosmology, new light can be shed on issues such as the limits of teleology and the relation between teleology and necessity.