期刊名称：Hyle : International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry
印刷版ISSN：1433-5158
出版年度：2007
卷号：13
期号：2
页码：99-118
出版社：HYLE Publications, Karlsruhe and University of Karlsruhe
摘要：Plato's geometrical theory of what we now call chemistry, set out in the Timaeus, uses triangles, his stoicheia, as the fundamental units with which he constructs his four elements. A paper claiming that these triangles can be divided indefinitely is criticized; the claim of an error here in the commentary by F.M. Cornford is unfounded. Plato's constructions of the elements are ana-lyzed using simple point group theory. His procedure generates fully symmet-ric polyhedra, but Cornford's 'simpler' alterna tives generate polyhedra with low symmetries and multiple isomeric forms. However, Cornford's principle of constructing larger triangles by assembling smaller ones is still valid
关键词：Plato's chemistry; elements; F. M. Cornford; group theory; Platonic ;solids.
