Ancient philosophical influences Flashcards
aristotle
- empiricism. a posteriori, senses. working hypothesis
teleology, potentiality - actuality. happens through 4 stages, then you can reach telos and exist in new state of actuality
material - what its made from
efficient - actualising potential
formal - shape of something , allows it to be identified
final - telos
plato
- rationalism. a priori self evident knowledge. before using senses. based on tautology, cannot change e.g. 2 x2 = 4
- demiruge. preexisting matter, mutable so imperfect.
- forms. change in world is imperfect. world of appearances (when we see things, we recognise them in relation to forms, imperfect copies, shadows) vs. forms (unchanging, permanent, essence of an object, not physical)
- form of good = highest form. illuminates other forms. find it through intellect and reason
plato and cave
- shadows = world of appearances, think its reality
- sun = form of good, illuminates truth.
- outside world = world of forms. hard to adjust to, wouldn’t recognise 3d shadows.
- prisoner = socrates. if he returned to cave, people would not believe him (those who executed socrates)
criticism of plato
- popper, change isn’t bad
- ayer, plato assumes if we have a name for something, it must exist in reality
- kotarbinski. some nouns are onomatoids, not thins but stand for something
- Aristotle, eternal is not better. Multiple definitions of good
- experiencing world of forms is empirical?
Aristotle PM
what is the efficient and final cause of universe?
PM = final cause. pure actuality, not affected. causes change by attracting things to it, does not change itslef
necessary being, not contingent
perfectly good
beyond time and space
criticism of Aristotle
russell, Dawkins, Sartre - world has no purpose
russell - fallacy of composition, mother
support of rationalism/empiricism
+ descartes supports rationalism, wax
+hume supports empiricism, senses dont lie
