Aristotle

Question 1

Material Cause- define

Answer 1

All things are made of some matter

e.g. Marble, flesh, blood

Question 2

Formal Cause- define

Answer 2

All things have some form; they are made to be something e.g. trees, chairs etc.

Question 3

Efficient cause- define

Answer 3

All things are brought about by something else; something causes them to be, e.g. watchmaker, sculptor, hammer, chisel etc.

Question 4

Final cause- define

Answer 4

All things have a purpose for which they exist, e.g. the eye for seeing

Question 5

Prime mover- define

Answer 5

The thing that started everything, Aristotle thought it was God

Question 6

Telos- define

Answer 6

The final end of things; what they are made to do

Question 7

What are the 4 causes?

Answer 7

Material, Efficient, Form, Final

MEFF

Question 8

What do the 4 causes explain?

Answer 8

A complete explanation of anything would consist of the 4 causes

Question 9

Motion- define

Answer 9

All things are in motion, caused by other things that move them

Question 10

What is Actuality/Potentiality

Answer 10

Things that are actually in one state are potentially in another state but need moving to change from one to the other

Question 11

Prime motion

Answer 11

there must be a prime mover, who himself unmoved, who can move other things (God)

Question 12

Indivisible- define

Answer 12

Divine simplicity

Question 13

Necessary- define

Answer 13

The prime mover cannot not exist

Question 14

Reality- Define

Answer 14

The ultimate truth of all things

Question 15

Transcendent- Define

Answer 15

Not of this world

Question 16

Unchanging- define

Answer 16

The prime mover is pure actuality

Question 17

What would Russel say about the 4 causes?

Answer 17

It works on earth, but the statement “the universe itself has 4 causes” is not observable so cannot be verified