Bernice
I've been reading the Aristotle link you gave Mel, 'On Generation and Corruption'. Also found this 'commentrary' on it:
http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/EA/ARISTOTLEann.HTML
And this link (Aristotle on meteorology) explaining the 'action'/'nature' of Hot-Cold and Dry-Moist.
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/meteorology.4.iv.html
Here's an extract:
But this following link, explains Aristotles 'wisdom' re. the four elements - in modern english (YAY!). And includes Aristotles thoughts of how Metal comes into being.... From Alchemy, the Ancient Science by Neil Powell; pages 26 to 30.
http://fuzzy.snakeden.org/alchemy/aristot.html
Bee
http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/EA/ARISTOTLEann.HTML
And this link (Aristotle on meteorology) explaining the 'action'/'nature' of Hot-Cold and Dry-Moist.
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/meteorology.4.iv.html
Here's an extract:
Two of the qualities, the hot and the cold, are active; two, the dry and the moist, passive. We can satisfy ourselves of this by looking at instances. In every case heat and cold determine, conjoin, and change things of the same kind and things of different kinds, moistening, drying, hardening, and softening them. Things dry and moist, on the other hand, both in isolation and when present together in the same body are the subjects of that determination and of the other affections enumerated. The account we give of the qualities when we define their character shows this too. Hot and cold we describe as active, for 'congregating' is essentially a species of 'being active': moist and dry are passive, for it is in virtue of its being acted upon in a certain way that a thing is said to be 'easy to determine' or 'difficult to determine'. So it is clear that some of the qualities are active and some passive.
But this following link, explains Aristotles 'wisdom' re. the four elements - in modern english (YAY!). And includes Aristotles thoughts of how Metal comes into being.... From Alchemy, the Ancient Science by Neil Powell; pages 26 to 30.
http://fuzzy.snakeden.org/alchemy/aristot.html
Bee