Aristotle (pt 1)

Question 1

When did Aristotle live?

What did he begin?

What was Plato’s pet name for Aristotle?

How is Aristotle referred to?

Answer 1

1. 384-322BC
2. The Lyceum
3. the brain
4. “The Philosopher”

Question 2

What is Aristotle’s conception of “god”?

Answer 2

1. Pure actuality; all being no becoming
2. Unmoved mover (uncaused cause)
3. Eternal but not personal
4. Explains all change and motion

Question 3

What is Aristotle’s Theory of Substance?

Answer 3

1. Everything exists as a primary substance (the things in this world are real, not illusion)
2. Every substance has matter and form (this answers the question of being and becoming)

Question 4

Every physical thing has substance and accidens; what are these?

Answer 4

Substance: the actual essence of a thing

Accidens: the external perceivable qualities
[Transubstantiation: Bread / wine appears to be bread and wine (accidens) but has the essence of body and blood (substance)]

Question 5

What was the central disagreement between Aristotle and Plato?

Answer 5

1. epistemology.
2. Aristotle rejected the world of forms
3. Aristotle believed that things in this world are real in themselves

Question 6

What are Aristotle’s four causes?

Answer 6

1. Material (stuff) [this is the substance that something is made from]
2. Formal (Form) [this refers to what gives the matter its form]
3. Efficient (Former) [this refers to what gives the matter its form]
4. Final (Purpose/Telos) [the purpose of goal for the thing]
   [Chair: material (pine wood) formal (its shape as a chair); efficient (the carpenter who made it); final cause (sit on)]

Question 7

What are two famous quotes for Aristotle?

Answer 7

1. “Philosophy begins with wonder”
2. “By nature all men long to know”