Aristotle on Substance & Change

Question 1

what are the first principles?

Answer 1

1. perception
2. memory
3. experience

Question 2

what is perception?

Answer 2

the power to discriminate

Question 3

what is memory?

Answer 3

the power to retain what we percieve

Question 4

what is experience?

Answer 4

the universal first principle from which a rational account arises

Question 5

what does qua mean?

Answer 5

qua indicates the sense in which Aristotle is referring to a subject (i.e. “insofar as it is…”)

insofar = to the extent/degree that it is

Question 6

what are characteristics?

Answer 6

accidental or coincidental when they can be seperated from one another even if only in thought

e.g. Socrates qua man is rational (you can seperate man from characteristics of Socrates)

Question 7

what is phusis (physics)?

Answer 7

phusis = nature

• a principle/cause of motion & stability within those things to which it primarily belongs in their own right (& not coincidentally)
• natures are invariable in subjects

e.g. humanity → as long as you have human nature you remain human

Question 8

what is the principle of motion?

physics

Answer 8

changes the condition that something is in

Question 9

what is the principle of stability?

physics

Answer 9

keeps something in the condition it is in

Question 10

what are natural things?

Answer 10

each thing has within itself a principle of motion & stability in place in growth & decay or in alteration

e.g. animals & their parts, plants, & simple bodies (i.e. earth, air, water, fire)

Question 11

what are non-natural things?

Answer 11

did not come to be on its own with no innate impluse to change

e.g. products of art

Question 12

what are primary & secondary substances?

Answer 12

primary: what something is made up of
(e.g. Prof. Styoles = blood, bones, guts, etc.)

secondary: more nature than matter & always in matter
(e.g. Prof. Styoles = teaches phil., walks on two legs, etc.)

Question 13

what is a hylomorphic compound?

Answer 13

a compound of 1 & 2
hylomorphic = the compound of matter & shape

Question 14

what are the 4 causes?

Answer 14

1. material cause: that out of which a thing comes to be
2. formal cause: that which makes a thing a “this”
3. efficient cause: the sourse of change or stability that starts the process
4. final cause: the end goal of an object for the sake of which something comes to be/exist**

not all things have all 4 causes → lack of final cause = chance/fortune

e.g. a bronze statue
material = bronze
formal = the bronze is formed into a “thing”
efficient = the sculptor
final = memorial, beautification, etc.

Question 15

what is potentiality vs. actuality?

Answer 15

potentiality: the potential for something to be or become/to act or be acted upon

actuality: the realization/actualization of potential