Aristotle On Soul
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Transcript of Aristotle On Soul
You will be able to:You will be able to:
1.1. Explain the distinction between Explain the distinction between matter and form matter and form
2.2. Explain what Aristotle means by Explain what Aristotle means by the the soulsoul
Let’s recap on Plato and the Let’s recap on Plato and the soul: True or false?soul: True or false?
1.1. Plato identifies the soul with desirePlato identifies the soul with desire
2.2. Plato is a monist Plato is a monist
3.3. The soul is grounded in the world of The soul is grounded in the world of the sensesthe senses
4.4. The soul can survive death for PlatoThe soul can survive death for Plato
5.5. Plato believes in resurrectionPlato believes in resurrection
PotentialityPotentiality v v ActualityActuality
Potentiality- this wood COULD
become a rocking chair if it is turned into one
Actuality- it has become a
lovely bed!
Development of Development of formform
Potentiality
Actuality
Aristotle's philosophy was based on his Aristotle's philosophy was based on his key distinction between key distinction between MATTERMATTER and and
FORMFORM::
MATTER = The raw materials
(e.g. wood)
FORM = Bedness
Aristotle's philosophy was based on his Aristotle's philosophy was based on his key distinction between key distinction between MATTERMATTER and and
FORMFORM::
Matter =
Fur
Form =
cat
Telos = purpose/goalTelos = purpose/goal
The telos of the acorn is to
become the oak tree- the
acorn is POTENTIALLY an oak tree
The The formform of a human would be of a human would be when we actualise our when we actualise our
potential:potential:
Like the Butterfly
actualising the potential of the
caterpillar
MatterMatter oror Form?Form?
stickstick
Tree Tree
PaperPaper
The Mona LisaThe Mona Lisa
A corpseA corpse
DNADNA
Mature adultMature adult
PaintPaint
PooPoo
West highland terrierWest highland terrier
ElectricityElectricity
SandSand
CementCement
CarrotCarrot
MicrowaveMicrowave
dustdust
MatterMatter oror Form?Form?
stick stick MM
Tree Tree FF
Paper Paper FF
The Mona Lisa The Mona Lisa FF
A corpse A corpse MM
DNA DNA FF
Mature adult Mature adult FF
Paint Paint MM
Poo Poo MM
West highland terrier West highland terrier FF
Electricity Electricity MM
Sand Sand MM
Brick Brick FF
Carrot Carrot FF
Microwave Microwave FF
Dust Dust MM
Flesh and bones are the Flesh and bones are the MatterMatter of human organs and limbs but of human organs and limbs but an arm is not a mere heap of an arm is not a mere heap of bones. It is flesh and bones bones. It is flesh and bones organised in such a way organised in such a way (Form)(Form)
SoulSoul==FormForm
That is why we can That is why we can dismiss as unnecessary dismiss as unnecessary the question of whether the question of whether the the soulsoul and the body and the body
are one: it as though we are one: it as though we were to ask whether the were to ask whether the wax and its shape are wax and its shape are
oneone
Soul is not a special ingredient which
breathes life into a lifeless body; it is a certain aspect of a living organism. It
forms a unified whole
Aristotle’s analogyAristotle’s analogy
The relationship The relationship between between mattermatter and and
formform is far more is far more clear with artefacts clear with artefacts
as the as the formform is is imposed by the imposed by the
craftsmancraftsman
With living organisms:With living organisms:
MatterMatter and and FormForm ( (SoulSoul) are intimately ) are intimately bound up with each other- a human bound up with each other- a human
soul, for example requires a soul, for example requires a particular type of particular type of mattermatter- studying - studying
organisms gives you an idea of what organisms gives you an idea of what it IS to BE that thingit IS to BE that thing
David Attenborough studies David Attenborough studies soulssouls!!
He tells us what it is He tells us what it is to be that thing- to be that thing- the essence of:the essence of:
DolphinicityDolphinicity
WombatnessWombatness
SpidericitySpidericity
The axe exampleThe axe example
Imagine an evil Imagine an evil witch puts a witch puts a spell on this poor spell on this poor little axe! It has little axe! It has lost its essence lost its essence and is no longer and is no longer an axe an axe
The Human EyeThe Human Eye
The eye The eye is simply is simply matter matter without without
the the power of power of sight. It is sight. It is no longer no longer an eyean eye
What is the What is the soulsoul then? then?
It is a It is a power power
but there but there is no is no
general general definitiondefinition
Humans (reasoning)
Animals (sensation, eg. Pleasure)
Plants (Nutrition, growth, reproduction)
Exercising reasoning is Exercising reasoning is essentiallyessentially
a human actively a human actively demonstrating demonstrating soulsoul (actuality)(actuality)
SoulSoul
““Soul Soul is the form of a natural body is the form of a natural body having life potentially in it”having life potentially in it”
SoulSoul = actuality = actuality
SoulSoul is the nature of living things (the is the nature of living things (the inner principle of change and rest)inner principle of change and rest)
True or False?True or False?
1.1. Aristotle takes a rationalist Aristotle takes a rationalist approach in observing the Universeapproach in observing the Universe
2.2. Soul is strongly connected with Soul is strongly connected with actualityactuality
3.3. Aristotle’s theory implies that there Aristotle’s theory implies that there is life after deathis life after death
4.4. An embryo has actuality An embryo has actuality
True or False?True or False?
5.5. Matter is potentiality Matter is potentiality
6.6. Aristotle would say a gnat has a soul Aristotle would say a gnat has a soul
7.7. Plato and Aristotle both emphasise Plato and Aristotle both emphasise reasonreason
8.8. Aristotle would say that if you had a Aristotle would say that if you had a frontal lobotomy which destroyed frontal lobotomy which destroyed your ability to think you would no your ability to think you would no longer be humanlonger be human
At the end of the film the main
character is given a frontal
lobotomy in the mental hospital-
his friend decides to smother him with a pillow as he is less than
human