Aristotle's Four Main Causes

1966 Words4 Pages

To some the causes and effects of things are mutually exclusive, and coexistence with one another. When observing specific equipment or even life, the question stands that there must be an account that took place before such items ceased to exist. Particularly, Aristotle argues that each thing, whatever it may be, will have causes, or types of explanatory factors by which that thing can be explained. The significant knowledge of causes allows for specific accounts to be known. It’s like questioning what occurred first the chicken or the egg. Anything in life offers a question of cause; something must have been in order to bring about the nature of today. These causes are apparent in answering everyday questions, which in turn explains that the causes of life clarify the being of which stood before it and such causes amount to same entity.

Drawing from Ph.II.3 and Metaph.I.3 Aristotle’s accounts for four specific causes of things; Modification takes place bestowing to four dissimilar kinds of cause. These causes may also be elucidated as explanations; they describe diverse ways of why the change came to be. The four causes are material cause, which explains what something is made of; formal cause, which explains the form or pattern to which a thing corresponds; efficient cause, which is what we ordinarily mean by “cause,” the original source of the change; and final cause, which is the intended purpose of the change. For example, when making a car, the material cause is the materials the car is made of, the formal cause is the engineers design, the efficient cause is the development of building it, and the final cause is to provide a form of transportation to arriving and leaving one place to another. Natural objects, such as fl...

... middle of paper ...

...

Bibliography

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 194b, 24-25.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 194b, 27.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 194b, 30.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 194b, 31.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 195a, 24-25.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Physics . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 198a, 25-30.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Metaph . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 983a, 24-26.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Metaph . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 983a, 26-28.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Metaph . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 983b, 9-10.

Aristotle. "Selections ." Aristotle. Metaph . Cambridge: Hackett, 1995. 983b, 12-13.

Show More
Related

  • Aristotle's Argument of the Polis

    1743 Words  | 4 Pages

    In what follows, I shall consider Aristotle's’ argument of the polis, or the city-state, as presented in his Politics I.2, and expound on the philosophical implications of this particular thesis; namely, a thesis which claims that the city-state exists by nature, and correspondingly, that a human being is ‘by nature a political animal’. Along the way, I shall present two objections leveled against each claim. The first pertains to the invalidity of the argument on ends; specifically, I shall protest that when a thing’s process of coming to be is completed, even if we regard this as an end, this does not necessarily confer that such an end is a natural end, for artificial processes too, like natural processes, share the potential to arrive at ends. The second pertains to the ‘part-whole’ argument, which in a sense takes from the argument of function. Here, I shall discuss that it is not quite clear whether the claim that human beings - as parts of the whole - are necessarily political animals, and so the view that the state is ‘prior by nature’ is uncertain. After that, I will present two Aristotelian responses against these objections; and judge whether or not these appear succeed. I conclude that he is correct in asserting that the city-state exists by nature, and correspondingly, that a human being is a political animal.

    Read More

  • Reconstruction of Aristotle's Argument from Physics Book 2, Chapter 8.

    614 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this paper, I offer a reconstruction of Aristotle’s argument from Physics Book 2, chapter 8, 199a9. Aristotle in this chapter tries to make an analogy between nature and action to establish that both, nature and action, have an end.

    Read More

  • Stoic Hypocrisy and the Corporeality of Lekta

    2348 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the Stoic account of physics, all things identified, debated, discussed and pondered fall strictly into certain categories in the Stoic ontological structure. Of the three branches of the very broad category of ‘somethings,’ the two most relevant to this paper are bodies and incorporeals. The rigid conception of Physics as articulated by the Stoics seems to use the incorporeal somethings as a means to categorize, locate, and evaluate those things which are bodily. In their incorporeals, the Stoics include lekta (which I will discuss later, as it is an integral part of their causality), void, place and time. Stoic causality, a largely deterministic discussion of events in a fated world, discusses the alteration of bodies without defining any bodies as effects. In characterizing the effects of causation as only lekta, I believe the Stoics have left themselves with an incomplete discussion of causality. By showing that an effect of a particular cause may incorporate both incorporeal and bodily aspects, I hope to provide a more acceptable account of causation while demonstrating various holes in the Stoic account.

    Read More

  • Thomas Nagel: Aristotle's Doctrine Of The Four Causes

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Do we know other minds exist? If so, how? Based on similarities in characteristics and behavior alone are not sufficient proof to conclude other minds exist, however, if we breakdown the mind to its core and analyze the relation to our existence then I believe we can know other minds exist. I will use Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Four Causes to argue that knowledge of other minds is plausible. His doctrine suggests that the reason for something to come to be, can be attributed to four different types of causal factors; these can be applied to comprehend anything. Its objective is to break the thing down to its base or its core to be able to gain a better understanding of the subject. We need to know what as much as we need to know why something

    Read More

  • Intellectual Goodness in The Way of Reasons by Aristotle

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the reading “The Way of Reason” Aristotle tries to define the good that is within mankind. He moves through a variety of exercises that narrow down and simplify the ideas that man is inherently good and that his tendency for it is deliberate and pre-destined. He looks at different activities, then breaks them down and finds the part that leads toward the final happiness. He feels that if man is truly good within his soul that he will be happy. Not necessarily happy as joyful, but, more like content or satisfied.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Aristotle's Views on Causality

    347 Words  | 1 Pages

    it can be said that the Big Bang is the Efficient cause, while God is

    Read More

  • Active Intellect In Aristotle,

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    All men by nature desire to know. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness they are loved for themselves; and above all others the sense of sight”. This is the foundation of human knowledge Aristotle presents us with in Book Alpha of the Metaphysics. The next question which we must naturally ask ourselves is, How? How is it that we can have any knowledge at all? We by our very nature desire to know and we

    Read More

  • Cicero and Stoicism

    3690 Words  | 8 Pages

    In contrast, Aristotle understood the underlying forces and influences that transpired when a state degraded. Cicero quite frankly could not understand the forces which Aristotle so eloquently denoted. For Cicero, history offered the only possible paths of outcomes; the forces and behaviors played little part on the resulting state.2

    Read More

  • The Unmoved Mover: God in Aristotle’s Metaphysics

    1471 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rather, Aristotle attempts to tackle some of the most fundamental questions of human experience, and at the crux of this inquiry is his argument for the existence of an unmoved mover. For Aristotle, all things are caused to move by other things, but the unreasonableness of this going on ad infinitum means that there must eventually be an ultimate mover who is himself unmoved. Not only does he put forth this argument successfully, but he also implies why it must hold true for anyone who believes in the ability to find truth through philosophy. Book XII of the Metaphysics opens with a clear statement of its goal in the first line of Chapter One: to explore substances as well as their causes and principles. With this idea in mind, Chapter One delineates the three different kinds of substances: eternal, sensible substances; perishable, sensible substances; and immovable substances.

    Read More

  • Aristotle View Abortion Essay

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aristotle’s theory of natural law, discussed in Niocmachean Ethics, is mainly teleological because he focuses on the end of all our actions, and how they should lean to happiness. He believed that there were four causes to every object in the world including humans. These were the, material cause – out of what the object was composed of, the efficient cause – what is recognized as being part of the object, the formal cause – the purpose, end, goal or aim of the object. For example, the material cause of a spoon would be metal, the efficient cause would be its shape and structure, the formal cause would be a factory and the final cause would be to use for eating. For Aristotle, the final cause was the most important for humans because it focuses...

    Read More

  • The Four Causes Of Aristotle's Ideal Form

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    Aristotle was concerned with Plato’s idea that the ideal Form only comes from one idea. Alternatively, Aristotle states that he is interested in the matter and why a particular piece of matter exists the way it does. From this, Aristotle concluded that there must be more than one cause for things to exist. With this, we are given Aristotle’s four causes.

    Read More

  • The Theory of Origin in Aristotle's Metaphysics

    394 Words  | 1 Pages

    Aristotle believes that there are four kinds of changes: What, Place, Quality and Quantity. For example, a pen is by definition the object, it has a position and takes up space, it exists for a period of time and has shape and size. These external characteristics can and will change. According to Aristotle, everything changes. Therefore the pen has potential to move, to change color and size. When it changes from a state of how it is perceived, otherwise known as potential, to a state of what it can be, it has reached a state of actuality.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Descartes And Aristotle

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    The pursuit of knowledge has led many a philosopher to wonder what the purpose of life truly is, and how the material and immaterial are connected. The simple fact is, we can never know for certain. Arguments can be made, words can be thrown around, and rationale can be supported, but we as mere humans are not capable of arriving at the perfect understanding of life. Nonetheless, in the war against our own ignorance, we seek possible explanations to explain that which science and math cannot. Philosopher 's such as Plato and Aristotle have made notable contributions to our idea of the soul and its role in the grand scheme of life, while some, such as Descartes, have taken a more metaphysical view by pondering the impact one 's mind has on

    Read More

  • Aristotle

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aristotle’s notion of cause represents his idea of how everything comes into being. All change involves something coming from out of its opposite. These causes are split into four: material cause, efficient cause, formal cause and final cause. Change takes place in any of these causes. A material cause is one that explains what something is made out of. An efficient cause is what the original source of change is. A formal cause is the form or pattern of which a thing corresponds to. And a final cause is the intended purpose of the change. All of these causes Aristotle believes explains why change comes to pass. A good example of this is a baseball. The material cause of a baseball is are the materials of which it is made of, so corkwood, stitching, with a rubber core and wrapped in leather. The efficient cause of the baseball would the factory where the ball was made or where the materials were manipulated until they corresponded into a baseball. The formal cause of the ba...

    Read More

  • Plato's Theory Of Forms

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Greeks are credited with inventing philosophy and it was believed that whoever pursued a deeper understanding in a subject was a philosopher. Since then, the subject of philosophy has grown and has helped us analyze complicated questions such as what is real and what is beauty. The questions encountered in philosophy can fall under four areas, but in this essay we will focus on one of them, Metaphysics. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with questions relating to the physical world. Further, in life we encounter many physical objects in which we can touch and feel. However, what makes these objects real? Plato introduced his metaphysics idea of Theory of Forms, which presents a view of what makes an object real. In this paper, I will touch upon the Theory of Forms and explain that a world of forms does exist separately from concrete/permanent things.

    Read More

More about Aristotle's Four Main Causes

Open Document