Aristotle by Ali Chapman

Four Causes

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 21:41:22 UTC

Efficient cause - cause of it existing, how it is made Material cause - The matter/substances that something is made from Formal cause - refers to what gives the matter its 'substance' Final Cause - Purpose of something

Final Cause

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 21:52:10 UTC

- Aristotle believed that this is the most important - Something has to have a purpose for it to be worthy of our attention - Everything in existence can answer the four causes (Doesn't mean we know the answers)

Final cause of a slug?

Purpose realised = full perfection achieved

EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE EVEN IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT

Prime Mover

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 21:58:19 UTC

-'Something must make everything else happen - Domino effect (trigger) - External being makes things happen - Starter is different, separate and eternal - Metaphysics (Something can't come from nothing)

Characteristics: - Beyond change - Perfect - Outside universe - Spiritual - Final cause

God and the Prime Mover

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 22:03:37 UTC

Similarities:

- Eternal - Perfect - Beyond change - Not dependant on anything else for existence - Not made of a material Differences:

- Believe Jesus is God come into the physical world - God intervenes by answering prayers - Christians claim that they have had experience of God (Does interact)

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 22:04:54 UTC

PROBLEMS

chapmana1 — 2014-12-03 22:07:44 UTC

- If prime mover is eternal, where did God come from? Was he caused? - How can the prime mover be so powerful yet unable to know it - Does there have to be a final cause for the universe? - Prime mover is transcendent so can't interact so how can Christians have an experience of God