Flashcards
Realism, Idealism, and Skepticism on Purpose in Nature and Change
Flashcards do conjunto (32)
- 1existentialIs it?;
Does it exist? - 2essentialWhat is it?;
a thing's essence - 3Four Causesaccording to Aristotle, there are four causes in Nature;
Material, Formal, Efficient, and Final - 4Material Causethat out of which a thing comes into being, and which remains present in it
- 5Formal Causethe form, pattern, or essence of the thing; this may be accidental or substantial
- 6accidentala nonessential change
- 7substantialan essential change
- 8Efficient Causethe source of the change; that which produces change
- 9Final Causethe end, purpose, or goal of the change
- 10Potencythings that could exist, but do not presently exist
- 11Actthings that presently exist
- 12prime matterAKA first matter; a theoretical form of matter that has pure and unlimited potential
- 13secondary mattermatter that already exist in some form
- 14How is matter a cause?Matter provides the potential range of possibilities within which a change can take place.
Also, matter limits the range of possibilities of a change. - 15How is form a cause?Form is active. It is what actualizes matter to be on of its possibilities. It can be substantial or accidental.
- 16hylomorphismhyle = "matter"
morphe = "form";
the union of matter and form - 17generationcoming to be; a movement from non-being to being
- 18corruptionceasing to be; a movement from being to non-being
- 19What are the three things necessary for generation and corruption?matter, form, and privation
- 20privationa lack of existence that is proper to the subject of the change; the lack of some potential existence
- 21teleologyexplanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve
- 22Aristotle's First Argument for Purpose in Nature1. Events either occur by chance or for a purpose.
2. Natural things, normally, come about in a given way.
3. Spontaneous events do not come about in a certain way or pattern.
4. Therefore, things in Nature occur for a purpose.
5. Human beings can recognize these purposes and use them to our advantage.
6. Accidents do occur, but we only they are accidents because they do not fit the purpose. - 23Aristotle's Second Argument for Purpose in Nature1. When a series has an end or purpose, all steps in that series are for that purpose.
2. We can clearly see this in human actions when we set goals.
3. Actions in Nature are similar to human actions.
4. Therefore, there is a purpose in Nature. - 24Decartes's Argument on Change in NaturePremise 1: My senses observe change in the world.
Premise 2: My senses deceive me.
Conclusion: Change is an illusion. - 25Descartes's Response to Concerns on Evil; Argument for Purpose in NaturePremise 1: Descartes reminds himself that we are extremely weak and limited beings
Premise 2: God, however, is immense and infinite.
Premise 3: A finite mind cannot understand a infinite mind.
Premise 4: The purposes and plans of God transcend human understanding.
Conclusion: We should not ask about God's plan. We should stop asking why. - 26Descartes's argument on why other things may exist in the universePremise 1: God is perfect
Premise 2: As a perfect being is omnipotent
Premise 3: An omnipotent being can do anything except the logically impossible
Conclusion: God has the power to create things I do not know about - 27Descartes's first argument on why it is possible things existPremise 1: Materials are referred to as object in math and geometry.
Premise 2: Math and geometry are innate ideas; they are clear and distinct.
Conclusion: It is possible that some material things may exist. - 28Descartes's second argument on why material things may existPremise 1: God is omnipotent
Premise 2: As an omnipotent being God can create material things
Conclusion: It is not impossible for material things to exist - 29Descartes's first argument on why it is probable that material things existPremise 1: The mind engages in the act of imagination
Premise 2: The mind can imagine material things when thinking of clear and distinct ideas.
Conclusion: Since this happens when the mind is thinking, it makes it probable that material things exist - 30Descartes's second argument on why it is probable material things existPremise 1: Descartes notes that it seems that we sense material things
Premise 2: The material things seem to control us.
Conclusion: There seems to be no other way to explain this, so it makes it seem probable that material things exist - 31dualismthe mind and body are completely distinct and separate (there is no hylomorphism)
- 32belief (according to Hume)a stronger conception of an object than we usually attain in our daily experience
Informações
- Descrição
- Made specifically for the Rockhurst University course, Reality and Human Existence
- Criado por
- badern · out 2014
- Atualizado
- 19 fev 2016
- Visualizações
- 43
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