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