Aristotle's Philosophy

Flashcards covering key concepts from Aristotle's philosophy, including his views on empiricism, the nature of knowledge, the Four Causes, ethics, and the concept of the Golden Mean.

What is Aristotle's approach to knowledge acquisition?

Aristotle emphasizes empiricism, asserting that knowledge begins with sensory experience.

What is the foundational statement of empiricism according to Aristotle?

'There is nothing in the mind that was not first in the senses'.

How does Aristotle form concepts?

Concepts are formed through induction, observing particulars and generalizing to universals.

What does Aristotle argue about errors in perception?

When we err, it is the mind's interpretation that is at fault, not the senses.

What distinguishes Aristotle's notion of 'Form' from Plato's?

Aristotle's Forms exist only in particulars and cannot exist without Matter, contrasting with Plato's transcendent Forms.

What is the meaning of 'Fallacy of Reification' in Aristotle's critique of Plato?

It refers to the mistake of treating mental concepts as if they are real entities, separate from particulars.

What are Aristotle's Four Causes?

Material Cause, Formal Cause, Efficient Cause, Final Cause (Telos).

What is the role of the Prime Mover in Aristotle's philosophy?

The Prime Mover is the ultimate cause of motion, purely actual and moves things by being an object of desire.

How does Aristotle define the soul?

The Soul is the Form of the body and is intricately linked to its functions.

What is Eudaimonia in Aristotle's ethics?

Eudaimonia is happiness and the ultimate aim of mankind, achieved through the actualization of virtue.

What does Aristotle mean by 'The Golden Mean'?

The Golden Mean is finding a balance or middle ground between excessive and deficient behaviors.

What is a practical syllogism?

A type of reasoning that combines beliefs and desires to determine actions based on specific situations.

What do friendships represent in Aristotle's philosophy?

Friendships reflect shared virtues and mutual respect, not equal love for everyone.

How does Aristotle differentiate between knowledge and existence of Forms?

Aristotle argues that Forms exist immanently in particulars rather than transcendentally as Plato suggested.

What is a key aspect of human nature in Aristotle's view?

While minds are Tabula Rasa at birth, humans possess inherent nature that influences their way of life.

What is the purpose of Aristotle's method of definition?

A definition specifies the Genus and the Differentia to distinguish categories.

Who was Aristotle's notable student?

Aristotle was the tutor of Alexander the Great.