1. Plato + Aristotle: Arstl views on reality Flashcards
Heavily influenced by two concepts …?
Empiricism - observation and analysis of the natural world to reach knowledge and truth
Teleology - he study of the purpose of objects. In particular, Aristotle believed that everything in the natural world has a purpose or function, which he referred to as its telos.
what did he want to know about reality.
he wanted why something exists and why it is unique
He believed observation and analysis of the natural world could answer why something exists and why it is unique - His method of thinking led to classification in science.
what makes something unique
substance - This is the essence of something i.e its unique nature. Everything has its own substance even non living objects like rocks.
- Substance restricts actuality e.g an acorn could never become a chicken!
what is potentiality
(what it could be)
what is actuality
(what it actually is at the time)
when is something in its most real state
Once it had fulfilled its potential, it has achieved actuality, its reason for being and then it is in its most real state
For example, the telos of an acorn is to grow into an oak tree,
while the telos of a human being is to live a virtuous and fulfilling life - to achieve eudaimonia, which is often translated as “happiness” or “flourishing.”
what is substance made up of (no definitions)
form and matter
what is matter
- Matter. This is the material which makes up an object e.g for a human-hair, skin, bones, blood etc.
However, Aristotle did not think that it matter explained substance. He used the example of Socrates to illustrate his point. He said that Socrates’ matter is always changing e.g his hair falls out, his skin cells die, yet, Socrates stays the same. So substance can not just be explained by matter
what is form
Form is the characteristics of a species e.g a chicken’s form is that it lays eggs and pecks. All chickens do this.
Matter and form also apply to inanimate objects - a typical house e.g provides shelter, has a roof, walls etc.
how can you understand reality selon Aristotle
For Aristotle, understanding reality requires a combination of empirical observation and rational analysis.
He believed that the natural world can be studied and understood through careful observation and classification of its various forms and structures.
At the same time, he believed that rational analysis and logical reasoning are necessary to make sense of the data gathered through observation.
selon Aristotle, what is reality composed of
In terms of metaphysics, Aristotle believed that reality is composed of a hierarchy of beings, with each level of being possessing its own unique properties and characteristics.
At the highest level of being is the Prime Mover, an eternal and unchanging entity that serves as the ultimate cause of all motion and change in the universe.
