Aristotle Summary

Aristotle Summary

1. Aristotle's 4 Causes

   • Material Cause- the matter or substance from which something is made
   • The Formal Cause- what gives the matter its form or structure
   • The Efficient Cause- the cause of an object/ thing existing
   • The Final Cause- the reason why something's the way it is

2. Plato and Aristotle

   • Different
   • Aristotle: emphasises value of studying physical world
   • Effectively rejects Plato's theory of Forms
   • Rejects dualism and adapts Plato's understanding of the soul

3. The Prime Mover

   • The source that causes the motion and change of the universe without being moved and that is eternal
   • Exists of necessity
   • Is the Final Cause
   • Linked with God; in 'Metaphysics' Aristotle calls this being 'God'
   • Is related to the universe
     • As a leader
     • In the ordering of the Universe
   • Problems
     • Relationship between it and universe is unclear
     • Aristotle's PM is transcendent and cannot interact in the universe in the way that religious believers often talk about God's activity in the world
     • The casual relationship between the PM thinking and the universe is unclear
     • Is there a final cause or purpose to the universe?