Aristotle's ontology of change /

Early Greek philosophers struggled to explain change. How can something become different while remaining the same? A tomato changes color from green to red, but for it to change color, there must be something that underlies the change, something that persists. Aristotle devoted much of his natural philosophy to addressing change. Sentesy (Penn State) attempts a comprehensive examination of Aristotle's concept of change and its place in his broader metaphysics. In the book's six chapters, Sentesy examines Physics I, which articulates Aristotle's response to early philosophical attempts to account for change; Physics III.1--2, which presents Aristotle's definition of change and three terms central to that definition (potency [dunamis], being-complete [entelecheia], and being-at-work [energeia]); the basis of Aristotle's claim that to be an individual being is to be a source; and Aristotle's Metaphysics IX.8, in which he argues that being-at-work is primary because it is a source of generation. Intended for those specializing in ancient Greek philosophy, particularly those studying Aristotle, this book is thorough, well researched, and clearly written. It makes a persuasive case for the centrality of change in Aristotle's ontology. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty. --Francis A Grabowski, Rogers State University