aristotle

what is reality according to aristotle?

why of something - aition (translated as cause) 

-the physical world is real as it is experienced by our senses 

potentiality vs actuality

-applies to the process of change

-change=process by which an object aquires a new form

-object has the potentiality to become something different and change is the actualisation of the potential of one form of matter to become another form of matter

potential - actualisation - purpose 

potential - all things have the potential to change 

actualisation/change - things moving towards it’s telos/purpose 

purpose (telos) - things change to meet their purpose 

potency and act are distinct

e.g., wood cannot be both potentially on fire and actually on fire at the same time

four causes

-if you understand the four causes of something, you understand its nature

-material cause = there must be matter which undergoes the change from one form to another (what’s it made of?)

-formal cause = characteristics of a thing

-efficient cause = ‘how’?

-final cause = what is it for/what is it’s purpose

prime mover 

-reason why the universe is changing (actualising) from potential to telos

-prime mover causes everything in the universe to move, but it itself does not move; it is immutable (unchanging)

-aristotle argues that if the prime mover itself moved, it would just be another link in the chain of motion, so it must be something that is unmoved (sometimes called the ‘unmoved mover’)

-aristotle said the prime mover was perfect and so did not change

-aristotle said the prime mover was impassive (doesn’t feel any/show any emotion), doesn’t change and emotions require change 

-aristotle would argue that the prime mover cannot have any interaction with the world or knowledge of it (e.g., cannot listen to prayers)

four features of the prime mover

1.immutable (unchanging)

2.perfect

3.impassive (doesn’t feel or show emotion)

4.eternal (exists outside of time) 

weakness - telos

-not everything has one purpose, purpose is subjective