Aristotle Flashcards
How does Aristotle claim to know truth?
Through the senses and experience
Who was Aristotle’s teacher?
Plato
What is Aristotle’s theory called?
The Four Causes
Name the Four Causes
Material, efficient, formal and final
What does telos mean?
End, result or purpose
Which is the most important cause for Aristotle?
Final Cause
What can be said about an object if it fulfils its final cause?
It is good - e.g. a pen is a good pen if it writes well; even if the words written do not make sense.
What does Aristotle observe about things in the world?
There is motus, things are always changing.
How does Aristotle describe the changes he observes in the world?
Things change from actuality to potentiality
What is Aristotle’s explanation for all the things changing in the world?
The Prime Mover - drawing everything towards it
List key ideas about the Prime Mover
Unchanging, eternal, pure actuality, pure good, no potentiality, thinks about itself/thinking
Give two examples to show how the Prime Mover causes change/movement
Like a magnet attracts iron filings, like a saucer of milk attracts a cat. Neither the magnet or milk do anything.
Does the Prime Mover know who you are?
No - because it can only think about itself
Would there be any point in praying to the Prime Mover for help?
No - because it cannot DO anything, it only thinks about itself
What does motus mean?
Change (and movement)
