Prime Matter

Prime

Matter

Substantial

Form

•Reacts against Democritus (a materialist)

•Recognizes that human beings know universal and immaterial ideas.

•These ideas are more perfect (thus more real) than what we know by our senses. (eg circle)

Plato

Plato

• The Material world is “shadowy”, limited, changing, etc. While our ideas are clear, eternal, universal, stable…

•Idealist – our knowledge comes from pure ideas we “foreknew” before our soul entered our body.

•Sense data reminds us what we already know.

Aristotle

• Agrees with Plato that ideas transcend material reality.

• Disagrees though on how man comes to know ideas.

• Believes man has the power to discern the universal ideas in the particular (individual) material objects.

Aristotle

• To know man must use the experience of his bodily senses and the power of his soul to form true knowledge of ideas.

• Ideas are not then found in the “World of Ideals” but are encased in particular material creation.

Aristotle

• ACT vs Potency

• Final human desire and (ultimately) only human motivation is Happiness.

• Friendship the key relationship.

• Formed bases for the Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas