Aristotle's Metaphysics Lambda

     With the possible exception of Plato, Aristotle is the most influential philosopher in the history of logical thought. Logic into this century was basically Aristotelian logic. Aristotle dominated the study of the natural sciences until modern times. Aristotle, in some aspect, was the founder of biology; Charles Darwin considered him as the most important contributor to the subject. Aristotle’s Poetic, the first work of literary notice, had a string influence on the theory and practice of modern drama. Aristotle’s great influence is due to the fact that he seemed to offer a system, which although lacked in certain respects, was as a whole matchless in its extent.

The two philosophers, however, had some differences in regard to the number of substances and their attributes. In spite of the fact that Descartes’ definition presents God as absolutely faultless; this presentation does not see him as more of a substance than every other finite substance. Descartes does not show God as the only substance, but he holds that there are other finite substances. Accordingly, the term ‘substance’ is not applied universally to God but as well as, to all other creatures. While some created things need only the normal concord of God to exist (in that case substances), others can only exist with the help of other created things. Such things are referred to, as per Descartes, attributes of substances.

Books Zeta, Eta and Theta, together form the central part of the Metaphysics, with a focus on their general topic ‘substance’: its classification and relation to matter and forms, to actuality and

objects (e.g. a chair), definitions may vary, however they are all based on the existence of

A substance is a kind or type of being or existence. A substance, in contrast to a property, is self-standing, whereas a property can logically only exist as belonging to a substance. For example, a substance can be an object such as a human-body, where a property is only a quantifiable attribute of said body, such as the body’s height and/or weight. Moreover, throughout recorded human-history, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the number of substances that actually exist. Generally speaking, people fall into two different camps: monists and dualists. A monist holds the position that reality is only made up of one kind of substance; monists may differ in what this one substance actually is, but they can nonetheless agree that there is only one type of substance in existence. Contrarily, a dualist holds the position that reality is made up of more than one kind of substance. Dualists have classified reality into two distinct substances: physical substance(s) and mental substance(s). Physical substances are

God however, is a substance that is not finite; God is of the highest level of reality, an infinite substance. There are three levels of reality with properties or modes at the lowest, finite substances such as humans in the middle and an infinite substance, i.e. God as the highest (Thompson, 30).

Aristotle’s understanding of the four causes begins with the assumption that is present in all Greek philosophy, the notion of pre-existing matter. He observed the world around him and noticed that it was in a state of constant motion, a movement from potentiality to

For example, Aristotle viewed the cosmos being eternal based on his theory of eternal motion. Aristotle believed creation was the result of the interaction of matter, based on a potential to become realities resulting from a collision happening because of matter being in motion. Plato claimed that creation occurred through reason by a divine mind 85 using existing matter. Both philosophers believed that matter is eternal. Plato believed that the soul was created as an intermediary between God and His creation.

Space and time was also created. So, with these ideas, time had a beginning. Looking at it a different way, in the early universe, the normal concept of time is uncertain.

To begin, I will explain Aristotle’s conception of the first unmoved mover. He believes that there is one eternal primary mover from which all other motions are derived from, and which moves in circular motion by its own agency. This primary mover, or unmoved mover, is said to be an everlasting substance that is indivisible, as well as completely separate from all things perceptible. Aristotle also argues that this substance does not have magnitude, but instead is in a “complete state of actuality” (Met. 12.7, 1072b16).

Aristotle has formulated an economical and clear argument, but the passage that contains it fails to connect all the premises to other parts of the text to lend them supporting arguments. Aristotle extended his approach of starting from what is commonly believed to even this human function argument which is crucial to the whole work. As a result, many readers may be left unconvinced.

A: Anaximander theory about the different substances explains how he believes that they came from more simple form that just water. He thought the basic substance must be ageless, boundless and indeterminate. He knew things were made from smaller particles that we were not visible. His interest in the fundamental substance that constitutes everything or in determining what the most important feature of reality was. He though what happen in the universe came from natural powers and processes for example how the seasons changed from heat,cold,wetness,dryness it all alternate to create our seasons.

Therefore natural substances are capable of motion i.e. growing, gaining qualities, losing them and lastly being born and dying. In Book II of Physics and Parts of Animals Book 1, Aristotle goes on to contrast natural substances with artefacts, he states these are also capable of motion, but they move according to what they are made out of, he gives

For Aristotle 'nearby movement is the essential kind of movement and the essential sort of movement is roundabout movement ' For Aristotle this implies everything is moving, and the best type of development is development in a round movement in light of the fact that a circle is the ideal type of development. It has no starting and no end, it is consistent and everlasting. Aristotle saw this movement in everything, even the human presence is that of a cycle. We are conceived, recreate and pass on, in a nonstop presence pretty much as the eminent bodies start at one point and move around until they are toward the starting point once more. Aristotle expressed his point as the accompanying:

Aristotle believed that the goal of all human life is to achieve ultimate happiness. Happiness is the final Utopia or the end of “a life worth living.” Human instinct is characterized by achieving personal fulfillment, thus leading to happiness. Aristotle warns against going astray and “preferring a life suitable to beasts” by assuming happiness and pleasure are equal. Living a life preferred by beasts incapacitates a person from achieving the end Utopia. Even though Aristotle does not equate the two, he does stress that minimal pleasure is required to achieve happiness. Someone lacking in vital necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter are not capable of achieving happiness due to their lack of pleasure.