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Philosophy > Aristotle > Flashcards

Aristotle Flashcards

1
Q

What did Aristotle believe about this world?

A

He believed that knowledge is gained through the senses. This is the only world we can be sure of, so we must study it.

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2
Q

What was Aristotle interested in?

A

Interested in why things are unique and why they exist i.e. what caused them.

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3
Q

What does Aetion mean?

A

Term used by Aristotle to mean cause/explanation/origin.

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4
Q

What did he believe could explain the uniqueness and cause of things?

A

The four causes

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5
Q

What are the four causes

A

Material, Formal, efficient cause, final cause.

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6
Q

What is the material cause?

A

What is it made from e.g. chair - wood.

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7
Q

What is the Formal cause?

A

Its characteristics - how it can be identified e.g. chair has four legs, seat, back.

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8
Q

What is the Efficient cause?

A

How something has come about e.g. carpenter is the efiicient cause of a chair.

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9
Q

What is the final cause?

A

Purpose/reason for existing. This is its Telos (end). Chair is for sitting on.

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10
Q

What made everything different for Aristotle?

A

Everything had its own unique substance.

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11
Q

What is substance made from?

A

It is made of matter and form. Within substance is potentiality and actuality.

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12
Q

Why did Aristotle believe that there had to be a Prime Mover?

A

He wanted to know - what was the efficient and final cause of the universe. Believed chaotic matter had always existed. But why does this matter change towards a purpose? Why does it change at all? There had to be something triggering the change which was not changed itself.

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13
Q

Why can’t the Prime Mover change?

A

Otherwise it would be part of the chain of change and could not be triggering it.

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14
Q

What is the Prime Mover?

A

The very first substance which causes movement and change in all other things.

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15
Q

How does the Prime Mover cause change?

A

It attracts things to it and causes movement and change. It actualises potential. In this way, it is the final cause of the universe.

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16
Q

What example does Gerrard Hughes give for the Prime Mover?

A

In the way that a cat moves towards the milk, The Prime Mover is like the milk.

17
Q

If the Prime Mover can’t change, what else must it be?

A

It must be out of time as things in time change. It must not be dependent on anything else to exist - otherwise it could change. It is eternal - can’t change so cannot cease. It must be fully good - otherwise it could change. Must have no potential - otherwise it could change. It is fully actual.

18
Q

How does Plato and Descartes criticise Aristotle?

A

Assumes we can only gain knowledge through senses - could be wrong - not all knowledge is scientific - some is spiritual.

19
Q

How would Satre and Russell criticise Aristotle?

A

Universe may not have a telos e.g. it is just brute fact.

20
Q

How did Hume criticise Aristotle?

A

Cause and effect could be eternal and not require a prime mover - could just have started by chance.

21
Q

How would Theists respond to Aristotle?

A

Their experience of God is that God is personal - unlike the Prime Mover.

22
Q

What are the strengths of the Prime Mover?

A

Prime Mover is logical. Provides an explanation for cause and purpose. Full explanation for why things are unique.

23
Q

What makes reason stronger than observation?

A

Truths arrived at through reason seem to be unchanging e.g. maths. Truth through observation will change. Our senses can mislead us making empiricism inferior.

24
Q

What makes observation stronger than reason?

A

Certain knowledge can only be obtained throuhg senses e.g. it is raining outside. We cannot separate our thinking from our sense experience - this usually comes first before reason e.g. we learn maths visually first. But Plato would argue the concept comes first innately, we are not born a clean slate - Chomsky’s universal grammar.

25
Q

What makes the Prime Mover and Form of the Good similar?

A

They are both timeless, spacelss, immutable (unchanging) immaterial and eternal. Both give meaning, a purpose to matter. Both explain why anything exists. Neither are personal like the Christian God - they don’t answer prayers etc. Both have influenced the Christian idea of God - PM cause of the universe. Form of Good - absolute goodness like God.

26
Q

What are the key issues for Aristotle?

A

Does everything including the universe have a purpose?
Is Aristotle right to conclude that true knowledge comes through observation?
Do the Form of the Good/Prime Mover support the Christian idea of a personal God, worthy of worship?
Can something which is timeless interact with things in time?

27
Q

How does the Prime Mover contradict Aristotle?

A

Aristotle says that everything is changing but the Prime Mover isn’t

28
Q

How does Kenny respond to Aristotle?

A

Some things are self moving so don’t need a prime mover for motion e.g. people.

Philosophy (24 decks)

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