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Aristotle (The Four Causes (Material Cause (What something is made of, for…
Aristotle
The Four Causes
Material Cause
What something is made of, for example, 'the bronze of a statue, or the silver of the bowl' (Aristotle: Physics II)
Formal Cause
The form/shape of something, without a bowl being in the form of a bowl, it would not be a bowl
Efficient Cause
What brought something about, for example a sculptor is the efficient cause of a statue
Final Cause
What somethings purpose (telos) is, a light has the purpose of illuminating a room or a street for instance
Objections
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Fallacy of Composition: although Aristotle believes all things have a final cause (purpose), the human anatomy shows us that some parts of the body have no purpose. For instance, the appendix.
Universe seemingly has no specific purpose, countless planets of rocks and rubble. "The universe just is, and that's all" (Russell). There may be no purpose/final cause of the universe
Big Bang seems to rule out the possibility of a Prime Mover attracting towards itself, but rather away from itself
Prime Mover
If everything has a final cause, the universe must to. For Aristotle, this final cause is God
This Prime Mover, God, attracts, however is not consciously doing so - has no intention to
The universe has no efficient cause, this Prime Mover doesn't act as a creator, but instead something that creates moment and change
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