Aristotle The Four Causes

The world is constantly changing…

Things grow and decay…

Everything is caused by something else… ABCForever? B is caused by CA is caused by BAristolte wonders: Is this chain of cause and effect infinite?

Potentiality & Actuality There are two states of being: Potentiality – the possibility of doing something or becoming something (‘not yet’). Actuality – when potential is achieved (‘now’).

For example… You have the potential to achieve a grade of “A” in Theology. It is not yet actualised because you haven’t achieved it. Just because there is the potential does not mean that it will be actualised.

Potentiality  Actuality The sperm and the egg have the potential to become …

But something needs to cause the sperm and the egg to change from potentiality to actuality. It cannot happen on its own. A baby!

Aristotle was interested in the movement from potentiality to actuality… He thought that every single thing that is actualised has four causes of existence: Material Efficient Formal Final

Material Cause The things out of which an object is created.

Efficient Cause The way in which an object is created.

The Formal Cause The expression, idea or plan that led to the creation of an object. Its characteristics.

The Final Cause The aim for which an object is created.

Each cause is a different kind of answer to the question "why?" There are four kinds of answers to this question – answers which identify the matter, source, form and end.

So, why is this a statue? This is a statue because it is made of marble; because Michelangelo sculpted it; because it is in the shape of David; because Michelangelo wanted to depict the figure of David in marble (because he needed the money, perhaps).

Try identifying the Four causes of the following.. MaterialEfficientFormalFinal Cup Chair Clock Gun Watch Cheeseburger Computer Robot Dog Cow

What about a human being? What are our Material Efficient Formal Final causes?

Everything is caused by something else… ABCForever? B is caused by CA is caused by BIs this chain of cause and effect infinite? But for Aristotle this chain cannot go on forever… Who made the chain come into being?

The Prime Mover For Aristotle, the chain of cause and effect cannot go on forever. So we must ask what started the chain? Aristotle argued there must be something that began the chain without itself being part of the chain. An Uncaused Cause Or the Prime (i.e. “First”) Mover

Where is the Prime Mover? Everything within time and space is subject to change and we can ask of everything within the universe (even the universe itself) what caused it to be? What caused everything to be or started off the chain of cause and effect must therefore be outside of time and space.

Classwork/Homework On a separate piece of paper Apply Aristotle’s four causes (material, efficient, formal and final) to four different objects & turn in to me.