THE TEXT OF PHYSICS VIII 1.250B13 AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The contribution is a follow-up to my textual note in Aristotelica 3 (2023) on Physics VIII 1.250b1. What is at issue is a previously neglected lectio diffi-cilior concerning cosmic motion, i.e., εἰ ἦν καὶ ἀεὶ ἔσται, “if it was [always] there, it will also always be”, vs. ἀεὶ ἦν καὶ ἀεὶ ἔσται, “it was there always and it will always be”. The theoretical relevance of the reading emerged more clear-ly in the subsequent debate: it may imply a hypothetical foundation of Aris-totle’s theory of the eternity of cosmic motion, hence, of the cosmos itself, and hence, of its first unmoved principle. The question is: how can this case study contribute to the evolving research field of Aristotelian textual criti-cism? I will provide a more comprehensive answer in ‘Aristotle’s Earliest Ex-tant Manuscripts. New Doubts and Perspectives’ forthcoming in Aristoteli-ca 6.