Aristotle

Aristotle

1. Who was he?

   • Pupil of Plato
   • His thoughts on metaphysics

2. The Four Cases

   • Interested in why things exist the way that they do
   • He thought that there were four causes for why things exist the way they do
   • 1. Material Cause: the matter or substance that something is made from
   • 2. Efficient Cause: The agent that caused the thing to exist.
     • What caused it? How was it made?
   • 3. Formal Cause: the plan behind it. What makes it recognisable, structure, form and shape.
   • 4. Final Cause: The ultimate reason why it exists. It's purpose

3. Physical Objects

   • Constant state of 'Motus'
   • Observed 4 things:
     • 1. The physical world is in a constant state of motion and change
       • 2.The planets seem to be moving eternally
         • 3. Change or motion is always caused by something
           • 4. Objects in the physical world were in a state of actuality and potentiality
   • Things exist in an actual state but have the potential to become another state

4. The Prime Mover

   • The originating cause for all motion eternally
   • Sustains all change from potentiality to actuality
     • Kitten to a Cat
   • Characteristics
     • Exists by necessity - it cannot fail to exist
     • Is unchanging, it is pure actuality by nature so it's nature is good
     • The Prime Mover is the Final Cause - the ultimate reason why things exist
     • The ultimate reason and final goal of movement

5. God

   • Aristotle rejects the idea that God thinks about the universe and what happens in it
     • That would be God changing
       • God only reflects on being God