Aristotle Flashcards
Explain Aristotle’s theory of the four causes.
Aristotle’s four causes are: Material Cause (what something is made of), Formal Cause (its shape or essence), Efficient Cause (how it comes into being), and Final Cause (its purpose or telos). These causes explain change and existence through empirical observation.
What was Aristotle’s response to Heraclitus’ challenge about change and knowledge?
Aristotle believed that by understanding the causal mechanisms responsible for change, true knowledge can be gained from empirical observation, thus rejecting Plato’s idea that knowledge must come from a priori reasoning alone.
Summarize Aristotle’s concept of the Prime Mover.
Aristotle’s Prime Mover is an unmoved, unchanging cause of motion in the universe. It is pure actuality and sustains movement through attraction. Unlike a creator, the Prime Mover is the final cause, providing purpose without undergoing change itself.
What was Newton’s challenge to Aristotle’s Prime Mover?
Newton argued that objects in motion remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force, refuting Aristotle’s idea that objects naturally come to rest and thus negating the need for a Prime Mover to sustain motion.
How does modern science critique Aristotle’s formal and final causes?
Modern science, following Francis Bacon, rejects formal and final causation, focusing on material and efficient causes. Concepts like ‘form’ and ‘purpose’ are seen as metaphysical and unnecessary for scientific explanations, reducing them to material interactions and processes.
What was Sartre’s critique of telos?
Sartre argued there is no objective purpose (telos) since “existence precedes essence.” Humans must create their own purpose, leading to feelings of existential angst. He viewed belief in objective purpose as a psychological comfort rather than a metaphysical truth.
How do modern Christian philosophers like Swinburne & Polkinghorne respond to the scientific dismissal of telos?
They argue that science cannot answer questions of purpose, only describing the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’ of the universe, suggesting that purpose might still exist beyond scientific explanation and that science has its limits.
What is Dawkins’ view on questions of purpose in science?
Dawkins considers questions of purpose in scientific terms as invalid, akin to asking “what is the color of jealousy?” He believes such questions assume unwarranted purposes in life and existence, unsupported by empirical evidence.
How did Aristotle’s empirical approach contribute to modern science despite his incorrect theories?
Aristotle’s emphasis on empirical observation laid the groundwork for the scientific method, which led to more accurate understanding of reality. Newton’s discoveries, while disproving Aristotle’s specific claims, were built on an evolved form of his empirical approach.
