Question

• Explain and critique (a) Aristotle’s concept of nature or (b) his philosophy of teleology.

Answer 1

(a) Aristotle’s concept of nature is that nature is a source of being moved and of being at rest in that to which it belongs. Nature is a principle within a natural raw material that is the source of tendency to change in a particular manner unless stopped.

(b) Aristotle philosophy of teleology is that the best way to understand why the things are how they are is to understand the purpose they were designed to serve. His idea is that there is reason for everything. He sees human life directed towards a final end. He argues that rationality is our final cause and achieving rationality should be our highest aim.