Aristotle Flashcards
1
Q
Aristotle’s Understanding of Causation
A
- Rejected many of the key aspects of Plato’s thought: The existence of a world of Forms separate from this world
- A dualist approach
- Was interested in how things came into being – how they went from potential to actual
2
Q
Material
A
What something is made from
3
Q
Efficient
A
The activity that makes something happen
4
Q
Formal
A
The form or shape something has – allows it to be identified as whatever it is
5
Q
Final
A
Its reason for existing/purpose. Can be understood as telos (end).
6
Q
Final
A
Its reason for existing/purpose. Can be understood as telos (end).
7
Q
Aristotle’s Concept of the Prime Mover
A
- Aristotle understood everything as being caused by something else but rejected the idea of this chain being never-ending (a.k.a infinite regress).
- Therefore this chain needs a beginning and someone/thing to begin it.
- Aristotle believed that there must be some kind of efficient cause – someone or something performing some kind of action to make the change and motion in the universe happen.
- He believed that the cause of the universe must be God – the Prime Mover – this must be something that causes without being affected itself.
- Although it is correct to describe the Prime Mover as a ‘God’ who is not reliant on anything else for existence – it is very clear that this is not a personal God as understood by the Judaeo-Christian tradition.
- The Prime Mover must be a being with no potential; something which already is everything that it could be, pure actuality – with no potential to change or to be acted upon. It cannot be ‘concerned’ about the world (as concern would change it and it does not need to change).
- The Prime Mover is the efficient cause of all things – not so much in being the ‘pusher’ of the first cause and subsequent chain reaction instead the Prime Mover is the thing towards which everything moves by attraction or desire.
