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Philosophy > Aristotle > Flashcards

Aristotle Flashcards

1
Q

Whilst Plato was a rationalist, Aristotle was an…

A

Empiricist

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2
Q

What are the Four Causes?

A

Material
Efficient
Formal
Final

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3
Q

What is the material cause of an object?

A

What it is created out of e.g. bronze

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4
Q

What is the efficient cause of an object?

A

By which it is created e.g. sculptor

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5
Q

What is the formal cause of an object?

A

The expression of what it is/design e.g. idea of a finished statue

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6
Q

What is the final cause of an object?

A

For which the thing exists/its purpose or function e.g. the idea that prompted a sculptor to make the statue

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7
Q

What are the most important causes to Aristotle and why?

A

The formal and final causes because they explain what a thing is

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8
Q

What is the final cause to Aristotle?

A

It is internal to the nature of the object itself

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9
Q

What word best describes Aristotle’s theroy?

A

Teleological argument

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10
Q

What is actuality?

A

The mode of being in which a thing can bring other things about or be brought about by them, the realm of events and facts.

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11
Q

What is potentiality?

A

The power to effect change, the capacity of a think to make transitions into different states.

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12
Q

What does matter turning into form correlate with?

A

Potentiality turning into actuality

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13
Q

How does Aristotle’s belief contrast with Plato’s that change is not good?

A

Movement from a state of potentiality to a state of actuality is a good thing
For Aristotle, good is defined in terms of the final cause or the purpose of a thing

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14
Q

How does Aristotle use an acorn to explain all substances are in a state of flux?

A

An acorn (potentially an oak tree) exists before the oak tree it grows into but it itself is the product of an existing oak tree

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15
Q

What must there be for something to move from its potential to its actual?

A

Something already actual

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16
Q

How does Aristotle’s Prime Mover Argument go? (x3)

A

1) All motion is the result of movement from potentiality to actuality
2) Since the universe is involved in motion and since nothing moves that is not impelled to move by a form (actuality), the universe must have a supreme Form (Actuality)
3) Since the form (actuality) can never be in its potential state (and matter by definition is in its potential state) the highest Form is immaterial and without motion: the Unmoved Mover/ Prime Mover

17
Q

What is the Prime Mover’s only activity?

A

Thought- eternally contemplating its own being

18
Q

How does nature move from potential to actual?

A

As it desires to imitate God/Prime Mover’s actuality

Aristotle called this “desire” or “love”

19
Q

How can humans bring themselves into communion with the divine?

A

Only man can appreciate the truth and so only man can share in God’s nature by virtue of his intelligence (nous)
Since man’s intellect is divine, by cultivating it brings himself into communion with the Prime Mover

20
Q

Which philosopher illustrates how the Prime Mover can actually move things without moving itself? Explain this

A

Fr Gerry Hughes
A cat and a bowl of milk…
The milk does nothing but its presence is sufficient to cause the cat to move towards it
The Prime Mover is like a stationary magnet drawing all things towards their potentiality

21
Q

What are the 3 aims of the Function Argument?

A

1) Show that Good for humans is fulfilling out function well
2) Show humans have a distinct function
3) Say precisely what this function is

22
Q

How does Aristotle claim Good for humans is fulfilling our function?

A

There is a link between instrumental goodness of a human with an overall good for a human
A sculptors goodness is determined by their performance o sculpting
Therefore our goodness as humans is determined by whether we fulfil our function well

23
Q

Why could it be said humans have a distinct functions?

A

People have jobs which are their functions

Parts the human body have functions so humans as a whole must

24
Q

What are humans’ distinct functions?

A

Aristotle argues our reason (logos) distinguishes us from plants and animals: our function is to reason
Our souls make us human and our function is determined by the make up of our soul
Soul is the “blueprint” for humans
Function is determined by the kind of soul we have: humans have a rational soul and our function is to exercise the rational parts of our soul

25
Q

What are the parts that make up Aristotle’s Tripartite Soul?

A

1) Rational soul (practical and theoretical reasoning; love of contemplation)
2) Sensitive soul (motion and use of senses; basic motives and desires; love of honour)
3) Vegetative soul (nutrition and growth; love of pleasures; fulfilment of appetite)

26
Q

What notion does Aristotle use in his definition of the soul?

A

The soul is the first actuality of a natural body that is potentially alive
The soul is form applied to living things

27
Q

How is the first actuality a type of potentiality?

A

A capacity to engage in the activity which is the corresponding second actuality

28
Q

What is the soul a capacity to do/ causally responsible for?

A

To engage in the activities that are characteristic of living things of its natural kind
Animate behaviour

29
Q

How does Aristotle account for the mind/soul and body?

A

The soul is not a material object but it is not separable from the body

30
Q

How does Aristotle split the soul into two?

A

The rational and irrational soul

31
Q

What does the irrational soul involve?

A

Vegetive (basic instincts = need)
Desiderative (wants)
Cultivation of moral virtues through habit

32
Q

What does the rational soul involve?

A

Scientific (houses non debatable facts)
Calculative (deliberates to make decisions)
Cultivation of intellectual virtues through ‘instruction’

33
Q

What are moral virtues?

A

Qualities of character
Connected to the irrational part of soul
Cultivated through habit

34
Q

What are intellectual virtues?

A

Qualities of mind
Connected to the rational part of soul
Cultivated through instruction

35
Q

How does Aristotle explain moral virtues?

A

They fall between two vices: vice of excess and vice of deficiency

36
Q

Summarise Aristotle’s theory of the Good

A

The Good = flourishing = eudaemonia

37
Q

What is the Doctrine of the Mean?

A

All humans have the potential to develop moral and intellectual virtues
We must regulate emotions in a dignified way to avoid two vices of excess and deficiency
Reason should overpower our desiderative feelings

38
Q

Explain the Archer Analogy

A

Hitting bullseye = aim or virtue but different humans hit the bullseye in different ways and manners
Hitting the board itself is better than the arrow missing completely even if it doesn’t hit bullseye

39
Q

How does Aristotle view society?

A

Those lower (slaves, women etc.) should be ruled by those higher

Philosophy (14 decks)

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