Abstract
Aristotle’s book of metaphysical headaches, Metaphysics B, includes this dilemma(6. 1002b32–1003a5):1
Akin to this [viz., to the last problem Aristotle had dealt with2] is the problem whether the elements are [i.e., exist]3 potentially or in some other way. For if [they exist] in another way, there will be something else prior to the principles (for potentiality is prior to this sort of cause, but it is not necessary for everything potential to obtain in this way); but if the elements are potentially, it is possible that none of the things that are should be, for even what is not yet is capable of being, for that which is not comes-to-be, but none of what is incapable of being comes-to-be.
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Dancy, R.M. (1980). Aristotle and the Priority of Actuality. In: Knuuttila, S. (eds) Reforging the Great Chain of Being. Synthese Historical Library, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7662-8_4
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