Names meaning ‘world’ in Aristotle: κόσμος, τὸ ὅλον, τὸ πᾶν, τὰ πάντα, τὰ πράγματα, τὰ ὄντα, φύσις, and οὐρανός

Abstract

This paper aims to present the subtle distinctions of the terms with which Aristotle names the universe: κόσμος, τὸ ὅλον, τὸ πᾶν, τὰ πάντα, τὰ πράγματα, τὰ ὄντα and φύσις. The case of ‘heaven’ (οὐρανός) is peculiar, as it might be considered odd to call with this name the whole reality. We intend thus to show which are the philological abilities used by Aristotle to determine three senses of this term. These senses are better explained in the context of the philosophical doctrine of place (τόπος), in the light of which ‘heaven’ is understood as the place of all things, or the universe itself.