Aristotle’s Natural Philosophy I.Life (384 – 322) and Works II.Metaphysics and Epistemology III. Nature and Change IV. Cosmology V.Motion VI. Biology VII.

Aristotle’s Natural Aristotle’s Natural PhilosophyPhilosophy

I.I. Life (384 – 322) and WorksLife (384 – 322) and WorksII.II. Metaphysics and EpistemologyMetaphysics and EpistemologyIII.III. Nature and ChangeNature and ChangeIV.IV. CosmologyCosmologyV.V. MotionMotionVI.VI. BiologyBiologyVII.VII. AchievementsAchievements

LyceumLyceum

II. Metaphysics and II. Metaphysics and EpistemologyEpistemology

A.A. Metaphysics: Plato versus AristotleMetaphysics: Plato versus Aristotle1.1. Plato: properties of physical things from the Forms (external)Plato: properties of physical things from the Forms (external)

2. Aristotle: physical is reality; internal properties = form 2. Aristotle: physical is reality; internal properties = form and matterand matter

Form = properties (weight, color, etc)Form = properties (weight, color, etc)Matter = structure (substance)Matter = structure (substance)

B. EpistemologyB. Epistemology1. Start with senses: observe1. Start with senses: observe

2. Leads to 2. Leads to knowledgeknowledge

Example: observation of Example: observation of dogsdogs

Common sense!Common sense!

• Induction leads to deductionInduction leads to deduction

Form and matter cannot be Form and matter cannot be separatedseparated

(not so keen on (not so keen on experiments)experiments)

III. Nature and ChangeIII. Nature and Change

A. Change happensA. Change happensForm changes; matter stays the sameForm changes; matter stays the same

B. 3 categories of beingB. 3 categories of beingNot, potential, actualNot, potential, actual

III. Nature and ChangeIII. Nature and ChangeC. Cause of changeC. Cause of change

1.1. All All naturalnatural things behave according to their things behave according to their naturenature• Biological: inner driving forceBiological: inner driving force

2. Four 2. Four causescausesFormal cause: properties that can changeFormal cause: properties that can change

Material cause: unchanging matterMaterial cause: unchanging matter

Efficient cause: agent of causationEfficient cause: agent of causation

Final cause: goal, purpose (teleology)Final cause: goal, purpose (teleology)

Examples:Examples:• Statue Statue • Newborn babyNewborn baby

(compare to (compare to atomists)atomists)

• The 4 elements: earth and water- down; air The 4 elements: earth and water- down; air and fire- upand fire- up

QuestionsQuestionsWhich of the following is the study of the nature of reality?Which of the following is the study of the nature of reality?a. Metaphysicsa. Metaphysics b. Epistemologyb. Epistemology

Which of the following is a correct statement about Which of the following is a correct statement about the the

relationship between form and matter?relationship between form and matter?a.a. Form never changes; matter can changeForm never changes; matter can changeb.b. An object has either form or matter but not bothAn object has either form or matter but not bothc.c. Form and matter cannot be separatedForm and matter cannot be separatedd.d. Form is the true reality; matter is an illusionForm is the true reality; matter is an illusion

Which of the following is true about Aristotle’s Which of the following is true about Aristotle’s epistemology?epistemology?

a.a. The only way to true knowledge is through logicThe only way to true knowledge is through logicb.b. Observation reveals the truth about NatureObservation reveals the truth about Naturec.c. Observation and experiment are both paths to true Observation and experiment are both paths to true knowledgeknowledged. True knowledge is unattainabled. True knowledge is unattainable

IV. CosmologyIV. Cosmology

A. Origin of CosmosA. Origin of CosmosB. Properties of the B. Properties of the

UniverseUniverse1. Sphere divided into upper and lower 1. Sphere divided into upper and lower regionsregionsa. Celestial a. Celestial

regionregion• Unchanging Unchanging cyclecycle

• Perfect circular motionPerfect circular motion• CompletelyCompletely filled with aether filled with aether• Celestial spheresCelestial spheres

• Change and Change and degenerationdegeneration

• Unmoved Unmoved movermover (prime mover)(prime mover)

““in the whole range of time past … in the whole range of time past … no change no change … of the outermost … of the outermost heavens”heavens”

““all motion involves a all motion involves a mover”mover”

b. Sublunar regionb. Sublunar region

• Made up of the 4 elementsMade up of the 4 elements

HotHot

ColColdd

DryDry WetWet

The Four ElementsThe Four Elements

Fire Fire AirAir

EarthEarth Water Water

• Reducible Reducible • Not geometricallyNot geometrically

• Sensible qualitiesSensible qualities

Cold and dry =Cold and dry =

Hot and dry =Hot and dry = = Hot and wet= Hot and wet

= Cold and wet= Cold and wet

• ChangeableChangeable

Natural places:Natural places: Earth and Water: Earth and Water: down/down/

Air and Fire: Air and Fire: upup

Basis of AlchemyBasis of Alchemy

QuestionsQuestionsA hammer is used to pound nails. This is an example of A hammer is used to pound nails. This is an example of

________cause.cause.a.a. formalformal b. materialb. material c. efficientc. efficient d. finald. finalTo Aristotle, the most important cause was _____ To Aristotle, the most important cause was _____

cause.cause.a. formala. formal b. materialb. material c. efficientc. efficient d. finald. final

What term best describes the Prime Mover?What term best describes the Prime Mover?a.a. omnipotentomnipotentb.b. a divine craftsmana divine craftsmanc.c. a maker of miraclesa maker of miraclesd.d. self centeredself centered

Air made cold becomes ____ .Air made cold becomes ____ .a. firea. fire b. water b. water c. earth d. c. earth d.

aetheraetherThe changeability of the elements became the basis for ___ .The changeability of the elements became the basis for ___ .a. astrology b. chemistry c. alchemy d. cosmologya. astrology b. chemistry c. alchemy d. cosmology

B. Properties of the UniverseB. Properties of the Universe2. Other properties of the elements2. Other properties of the elements

• Heavy or lightHeavy or light• Earth heaviest – water – air - fire lightestEarth heaviest – water – air - fire lightest• Heaviest falls to centerHeaviest falls to center

• Proof Earth is at center of Proof Earth is at center of universeuniverse• Proof Earth is Proof Earth is sphericalspherical• Lightest ascend to lunar Lightest ascend to lunar

spheresphere• If unimpededIf unimpeded

V. MotionV. MotionA. No motion without a moverA. No motion without a mover

B. Two types of motionB. Two types of motion

1. Natural motion (internal force)1. Natural motion (internal force)

• Up: fire and airUp: fire and air

• Towards natural place in a straight lineTowards natural place in a straight line

• Down: water and earthDown: water and earth

2. Forced motion (external force)2. Forced motion (external force)• Not in a straight Not in a straight

lineline• Motion stops when external force Motion stops when external force removedremoved• Problem: projectilesProblem: projectiles

V. MotionV. MotionC. Celestial motionC. Celestial motion

1. Unchanging1. Unchanging

2. Perfect, circular motion2. Perfect, circular motion

3. Problem with seven wandering stars: sun, moon, 3. Problem with seven wandering stars: sun, moon, 5 planets5 planets

• Retrograde motion of MarsRetrograde motion of Mars

• Solution: each “star” given own sphere Solution: each “star” given own sphere (Eudoxus)(Eudoxus)• 55 circles plus fixed star sphere55 circles plus fixed star sphere

4. Ultimate cause of motion: unmoved (prime) mover4. Ultimate cause of motion: unmoved (prime) mover

• Celestial spheres seek to emulate perfection of Celestial spheres seek to emulate perfection of p.m.p.m.

QuestionsQuestionsThe wood that a table is made out of is the ____ .The wood that a table is made out of is the ____ .a.a. efficient causeefficient causeb.b. final causefinal causec.c. actual beingactual beingd.d. potential beingpotential being

What is the ultimate reason for the movement of the celestial What is the ultimate reason for the movement of the celestial spheres?spheres?a.a. the rotation of the earth on its axisthe rotation of the earth on its axisb.b. the motion of the moonthe motion of the moonc.c. motion created by the movement of souls in the world of motion created by the movement of souls in the world of

formsformsd. the desire of the celestial bodies to be perfect like the Prime d. the desire of the celestial bodies to be perfect like the Prime MoverMover

VI. BiologyVI. Biology

A. A. History of AnimalsHistory of Animals1. Father of Biology, Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology1. Father of Biology, Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology

2. Over 500 species 2. Over 500 species describeddescribed

3. Begin with description, then explain3. Begin with description, then explain

B. ClassificationB. Classification

1. Red blooded1. Red blooded

• Oviparous quadrupedsOviparous quadrupeds

• Viviparous quadrupedsViviparous quadrupeds

• Marine mammalsMarine mammals

• Birds Birds

• Fish Fish

B. ClassificationB. Classification

2. Bloodless2. Bloodless

C. Souls C. Souls (Internal organizing (Internal organizing principles)principles)

1. Nutritive soul- nourishment, growth, reproduction1. Nutritive soul- nourishment, growth, reproduction

• All that plants haveAll that plants have

2. Sensitive soul – sensation and motion2. Sensitive soul – sensation and motion

• Animals have this plus nutritive soulAnimals have this plus nutritive soul

3. Rational soul3. Rational soul

• Only humans haveOnly humans have

• Souls do not survive deathSouls do not survive death

D. Great Chain of Being (scala D. Great Chain of Being (scala naturae)naturae)

• Implications for evolutionImplications for evolution

QuestionsQuestions

If all the elements could reach their natural place, what would If all the elements could reach their natural place, what would be their arrangement starting from the center and thenbe their arrangement starting from the center and thenmoving outward?moving outward?a.a. earth, air, water, fireearth, air, water, fireb.b. earth, fire, air, waterearth, fire, air, waterc.c. earth, water, air, fireearth, water, air, fired.d. earth, water, fire, airearth, water, fire, air

Which of the following has a nutritive soul?Which of the following has a nutritive soul?a. a rosea. a rose b. a donkeyb. a donkey c. a human c. a human d. all of these d. all of these

Why does the Scala Naturae (Ladder of Life) exclude Why does the Scala Naturae (Ladder of Life) exclude evolution?evolution?

a.a. all life was created at the same timeall life was created at the same timeb.b. there are no in between speciesthere are no in between speciesc.c. each species is perfect thus unchangeableeach species is perfect thus unchangeabled.d. the circle of life is unbrokenthe circle of life is unbrokene.e. both a and d are true but not b or cboth a and d are true but not b or c

VII. AchievementsVII. Achievements

1.1. Nature of Stuff and how to know itNature of Stuff and how to know it2.2. Change and causationChange and causation3.3. Structure of cosmosStructure of cosmos4.4. Nature of deity (prime mover)Nature of deity (prime mover)5.5. Authority on disciplinesAuthority on disciplines

a.a. Terrestrial dynamicsTerrestrial dynamicsb.b. MeteorologyMeteorologyc.c. Planetary astronomyPlanetary astronomyd.d. GeologyGeologye.e. PhysiologyPhysiologyf.f. ChemistryChemistryg.g. BiologyBiology

i.i. Zoology Zoology ii.ii. intertidal marine invertebratesintertidal marine invertebrates

6.6. Logic and EthicsLogic and Ethics