Chapter 3: Aristotle And Descartes

Question 0

Where did Aristotle believe we could find essences?

Answer 0

• In the soul of something - the form of the thing itself
• Soul= embodied in form
  Ex: the ‘cutting ness’ of an ax is its soul, the soul of an animal is its ability to move itself…

Question 1

What’s Aristotle’s take on the theory of the forms?

Answer 1

• He found it unsatisfactory and too metaphysical

Question 2

What does Aristotle say the soul is?

Answer 2

• The actual form of the thing

- How we get to know the things of the world as more than illusions, but still seek their essences

Question 3

What is Descartes theory of movement and transformation?

Answer 3

Potentiality and act:
Potentiality = A thing’s ability to change, but to change in a certain way: according to what it actually is, or what it is in act
Act= The final resting position or actualization of things, having become what they are..
Ex: A seed= the potential of a tree
Tree= the act/ actualization of the seed

Question 4

What is Descartes’ certain of?

Answer 4

” I exist”

• I am a thing that things
• I know that I exist and I inquire what I am, I whom I know to exist

Question 5

What are Descartes 4 hypotheses to test this certainty that he ha in his senses as the source of his knowledge?

Answer 5

1. Madmen think they perceive the things that they don’t (maybe I’m crazy)
2. When I sleep, I cannot be sure if I am awake of dreaming
3. What if God is deceiving me?
4. What if there is an evil spirit, not God, who is constantly decieving me? ? (This one stuck)

Question 6

Why does D doubt so much?

Answer 6

• It’s an expression of his selfhood

Question 7

Who believes in an “unmoved mover”?

Answer 7

• Aristotle
• he said because there’s movement, it means there is something that is moving us towards an absolute point- this thing could be God