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It is my impression that the general principle is still considered valid
(and in perfect accordance with observational evidence). The one point of
critique would be a fundamental misunderstanding of how sucking works.
(Namely, not an active effort by a vacuum, a vacuum cleaner, a straw drinker,
..., but a passive lack of counter-pressure.)
While the interpretation may be less literal today than in ancient Greece,
it is still, IMO, a valid principle.
(Unless the article has skipped over some parts of the theory not present
in the "common knowledge" interpretation of the phrase.)
188.100.201.34 (talk) 05:44, 15 November 2009 (UTC)
As far as the attribution of the source for 'horror vacui' (or "nature abhors a vacuum") being Aristotle's Physica Book IV, I have been unable to find it stated anywhere in that book, even as a paraphrase. Book IV does indeed talk about the "void" (i.e. vacuum). But for that matter De Universa Book IV also speaks of the void.
I can only conclude that the term 'horror vacui' and the phrase 'nature abhors a vacuum' are later attributions to Aristotle based on the general topic of void/vacuum, not pulled from the text directly. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Edwardpiercy (talk • contribs) 17:52, 15 May 2010 (UTC)