Aristotle - Key Terms

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Potentiality.
When something contains the ingredients to become something else.
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Actuality.
When an object fulfills its potential and becomes something else.
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Telos.
Greek for purpose.
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Teleological Argument.
Concerned with the purpose (motive) or ultimate goal of someone or something.
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Empiricist.
Someone who believes we gain knowledge only through the sense experience.
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Prime Mover. (Unmoved Mover)
A ‘common Source’ of all substance which exists necessarily, and is immune to change. The prime mover is the first cause of all motion, and is the final cause of everything in the universe.
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Necessary.
Something that must exist and is not contingent to any other being, for it must be eternal.
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Substance.
Existing forms in the world, not related to platonic Forms. Both immaterial and material, Aristotle defined them into 3 categories.
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Immutable.
Something that is not subject to change e.g. God (Prime Mover)
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Metaphysics.
Philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance and attribute, fact and value.
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Epistemic.
Of relating to, or involving knowledge: Cognitive
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Cognition.
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through experience and the senses.
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The Four Causes.
Aristotle's theory that all physical substances must conform to: 1) Material Cause; 2) Formal Cause; 3) Essential Cause; and 4) the final cause.
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1. Material Cause. (Constituent)
The raw material of a substance. (the raw materials of a house is the concrete, brick, wood etc...)
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2. Formal Cause. (Essential)
The essence, or form of the substance; that quality that makes it what it is. The way it is structured. (the formal cause of the house would be its characteristics that tell you its a house, such as bedrooms, kitchen, windows, doors etc...)
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3. Essential Cause. (Initiator)
The Essential cause is the tools used to create the substance from its material; structured into its form, to give it its essence. (a house is built using tools, and machinery operated by builders)
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4. Final Cause (Purpose)
This Aristotle considered the most important of the causes, this is the purpose of which the substance was built. when a substance has achieved is purpose, it has then achieved its actuality. (the purpose of the house is to allow people to dwell)
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Substratum.
Physical Material.
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Teleology.
The consideration of natural ends or purposes in explaining phenomena.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Actuality.

Back

When an object fulfills its potential and becomes something else.

Card 3

Front

Telos.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Teleological Argument.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Empiricist.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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