aristotle
mysteriously combine to form an organism (6). Hence it is not clear what he had in mind when he described an active intellect whose activity is presupposed by the activity of the human mind and that is supposed to be able to exist independently of the body.Aristotle spent years studying the natural sciences and collecting specimens, and about 90 percent of his writings are on scientific subjects, mostly on biological ones (5). Aristotle believed he could account for the changes and alterations in this world without either having to deny their reality or having to appeal to another world. For Aristotle all natural objects were composed of form and matter, and the changes that take place in matter are the substitution of one form for another. This substitution takes place because every natural object has a goal, or telos, which it is its nature to achieve. Thus stones, because they are essentially material, seek the lowest point, which is why they fall down. Each species is ultimately trying to achieve a state of perfection which for Aristotle was a state of perfect rest. Most of Aristotle's work in biology was devoted to zoology. In Aristotle's study of biology the doctrine of teleology is particularly prominent. This doctri
overall cosmic telos. The stability of the universe is a necessary condition imposed by nature from without, but intrinsic in, and particular to, the specific Aristotle simply insists that the structure and the behavior of things also has to be understood as contributing to their individual being and function. Despite the fact that teleology, as Aristotle perceived it, cannot be brought fully into 20th century, a telos concept makes the comparison of organisms possible and has been called " a sign post to the study of nature" (4). Only in a system that is somewhat ordered can the study of life begin (4). The common features that describe a species or genus are the guides to abnormalities or alternate patterns of development. character of each natural kind of thing, the being-what-it-is" (4). "Thus chance events occur only within the limits of inherent aim: an aim not
Some common words found in the essay are:
Selection Interestingly, , Quantum Physics, Grene Teleology, Selection Aristotelian, Understanding Nature, Saint Aquinas, Elliot Sober, Immanuel Kant, Robert Hooke, completely mastering, telos concept, mastering matter, form completely mastering, completely mastering matter, form completely, natural objects,
Approximate Word count = 953
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
