Plato & Aristotle Flashcards
Rationalism
human reason is the primary source of knowledge
Empiricism
all knowledge derives from the senses
Revelation
knowledge is revealed to humanity through encounters with God
Theory of the Forms
Plato’s theory of the two worlds; Reality and Appearances
Form of the Good
highest of all forms; the source of all knowledge
Form (Aristotle)
what makes something recognisable, its shape or structure
Material Cause
what the object is made off
Efficient Cause
who made the object? who brought it into existence?
Formal Cause
the shape, structure and characteristics of an object
Final Cause
the purpose (telos) of an object
Concept/Ideal
ideal of an object
Phenomena/Particular
an object in the material world, reflecting the forms
Prime Mover
the unchanging Final cause of all that exists
Telos
end, purpose
A priori
recollection of the perfect forms - we recognise when something is not perfect because we remember the perfect ideal and form of beauty
Amanuensis
our souls remember from the world of the forms
Socrates and the Slave Boy
Pythagorus theorem
The Form of the Good
reflects the sun in the cave analogy
- sun enables us to see - FotG illuminate the mind
- sun enables growth and existence - FotG causes forms to be what they are
A posteriori
senses are truly the only way to gain knowledge
