1.2.1
Aristotle's Understanding of Reality
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Aristotle's Understanding of Reality
Aristotle considered at the beginning of his Physics that we can only know something inasmuch as we can explain it.
Quotation from Physics
- "Knowledge is the object of our inquiry, and men do not think they know a thing till they have grasped the ‘why’ of it".
- For Aristotle, the word he used for the ‘why’ of something was aition, which has been translated as 'cause', although explanation could also be used.
Potentially vs actuality
- Aristotle draws a distinction between potentiality and actuality.
- He applies this to the process of change (or motion).
- Change is simply the process by which an object acquires a new form (very different from Plato’s idea of Form). The object has the potentiality to become something different, and change is the actualisation of the potential of one form of matter to become another form of matter.
Marble/statue example
- For example, the block of marble has the potential to become an actual statue.
- The statue is latent within the block of marble – the block of marble has the capacity to become a statue.
Potency and act are distinct
- It is important to note that potency and act are distinct.
- The marble cannot be both a block and the statue at the same time.
- In another example a piece of wood cannot be both potentially on fire and actually on fire at the same time – so change is this movement between potential and actual.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Practice questions on Aristotle's Understanding of Reality
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- 1Which of these is NOT true of potentiality and actuality? Multiple choice
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