Aristotle s Argument For Formal And Final Causes

In this paper, I will refute Aristotle’s argument in the Physics in showing the need for formal and final causes in explaining natural things, by showing that his theories do not allow for any ‘chance’. Aristotle claims we observe order in the presence of ‘nature’ and ‘forms’. Accordingly, final and formal causes give structure and regularity to the natural world. I will argue, especially from the stance of materialism and Empedocles’ theories that chance can lead to order. In Physics II, particularly parts 4-6, Aristotle asserts that all of nature is ultimately teleological: everything is organized towards some final end. The four main elements, earth, fire, water, and air, hold a natural purpose to move towards the center of planet earth. For example, the natural place for water is the surface of planet earth. These elements move and change the way they do, due to their forms. This is how their natural places in the world have been determined. Aristotle believes that change occurs through four different kinds of causes: material, formal, efficient, and final. In brief, the material cause is what X is made of. For example, when building a house, the material cause is the house’s materials like bricks and wood. The formal cause is its form or pattern, or the architect’s plan. The efficient cause is its original source of change, or the process of building said house. The final cause is its intended purpose, or the house’s purpose to provide shelter and comfort. I willShow MoreRelatedAristotle s Understanding Of The Four Causes1448 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstanding of the four causes Aristotle explains that anything which changes is subject to causes giving it potentiality. Potentiality means that something has a purpose to fulfil when it is enabled to, this potentiality becomes actuality when it achieves that purpose which Aristotle called ‘Telos’. Therefore in order to go from cause to effect an object must change and Aristotle understood this process in four different ways called the four causes. He understood that each of the four causes was necessaryRead MoreAristotle s Theory Of Nature Essay1635 Words   |  7 Pagessubject of discussion is through finding its primary causes and principles, and then stem back to the root, its elements(Physics 84a. 14-15). To exhibit we have knowledge of a specific subject matter we have to display and vocalize the contributing components that describe the subject. Aristotle titles these principles, causes and elements as previously listed.Therefore, the knowledge of nature must arise with questioning principle s. Aristotle contends that only the elements and principles can beRead MorePhilosophy C100 Quiz 121572 Words   |  7 PagesX | True |    | False | 2.    Which of the following is a philosophical question:    | Is there a God? |    | Does the end justify the means? |    | What form of government is best? |    | What is Time? |   X | All of the above. | 3.   An argument is a reason for accepting a position.    X | True |    | False | 4.    The area of philosophy concerned with values includes    | Ethics |    | Aesthetics |    | Social/political philosophy |   X | All of the above |    | None of the aboveRead MoreThe View Of The Nature Of Reality2159 Words   |  9 Pages 1. Explain (the main ideas and views) and evaluate (by giving arguments) the view of Heraclitus regarding the nature of reality? A: Heraclitus nature of reality was based on the fact that the universe was always changing. He thought that there was no reality, according to Heraclitus everything was based on fire because like our lives fire also changes every single second. His famous quote â€Å"You can’t step in the same river twice† represents the change that we sometimes don’t see, because in hisRead MoreThe Soul Is An Essential Aspect Of Being A Human Being2723 Words   |  11 Pagesbut also animals, plants, and all living things. The soul, also referred to as the psyche, has been the topic of philosophical, scientific, and religious inquiries for thousands of years. Through their texts, three influential philosophers, Plato, Aristotle, and Augustine, shared their views on the soul and what they perceive it to be. Throughout this examination of their findings, the reader will better understand what the soul is, in respect to these philosophers perspectives. In Classical GreeceRead MoreThe Beliefs of Plato vs Aristotle Essay3789 Words   |  16 Pageshim as a pupil. When Plato was sixty years old, the seventeen-year-old Aristotle presented himself, joining the Teachers group of Friends, as the members of the Academy called themselves. Aristotle was a youth of gentle birth and breeding, his father occupying the position of physician to King Philip of Macedon. Possessed of a strong character, a penetrating intellect, apparent sincerity, but great personal ambition. Aristotle was a student in the Academy during the twenty years he remained in AthensRead MoreEssay on Plato on the Existence of Negative Forms4235 Words   |  17 Pagesaccording to Plato?s system, there must be one negative form. For the purpose of analyzing Aristotle?s criticism of Plato, David Ross outlines three distinct respects in which a term can be considered negative.[3] The first category of negative terms that Ross identifies are those which are ?purely negative in their meaning? such as the ?not-good? or ?not-beautiful.? What the many not-good have in common is the absence of being good. The second class of negative terms in Ross?s division encompassesRead MoreThe Church in the Middle Ages Essay2025 Words   |  9 PagesThe Church in the Middle Ages By The Middle Ages, one understands a relatively long historical period extending from the end of the Roman Empire to the 1500s. The conquest of The Roman Empire by Germanic tribes, and synthesis of Germanic and Roman ways of life formed the civilization which we call medieval (medieval-from Latin words; medium (middle) and aevum (age)). Medieval civilization was greatly influenced by the Muslims in Spain and The Middle East, and by Byzantine Empire and ChristiansRead MoreThank You for Arguing Reading Logs Essay6613 Words   |  27 Pagesperspective on the human condition. After it awakens you to the argument all around, the world will never seem the same.† (6) In chapter one, â€Å"Open Your Eyes,† Heinrichs states that argument is an important social element that surrounds everyday life. People who uses rhetoric, the art of argument, tends to succeed in persuading others to do their bidding. Many powerful politicians today mastered this tool. The most toughest arguments can be won with this art. Rhetoric has helped mankind developRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 Pagesto true conclusions, originally developed in Ancient Greece. Beginning in the late 19th century, mathematicians such as Frege focused on a mathematical treatment of logic, and today the subject of logic has two broad divisions: mathematical logic (formal symbolic logic) and what is now called philosophical logic. †¢ Philosophy of mind deals with the nature of the mind and its relationship to the body, and is typified by disputes between dualism and materialism. In recent years there have been increasing