Man’s Dominion

1. Man’s Dominion

2. Aristotle Ancient Greek Philosopher 384-322 BCE Student of Plato Unlike Plato, Aristotle was interested in empirical science. Originated the scientific study of life. The first person to attempt to classify species.

3. According to Aristotle: “Inquiry into nature” consists of a search for “the causes of each thing; why each thing comes into existence, why it goes out of existence, why it exists” (the Phaedo, 96 a 6-10)

4. The Four Causes Identified four types of cause: Material cause: what things are made of, i.e. its ingredients or components The Formal cause: the form or structure of things, i.e. what a thing is. The Efficient cause: the source of the change, what immediately causes it to exist, change or cease to exist, i.e. modern sense of “cause”. The Final cause: the reason for its existence, its purpose or end.

5. Telos The Final cause (telos) is the most important in understanding things. The telos of an eye is to see, of a heart to pump blood, of a tree to grow and produce fruit. Everything has a proper function. When you understand the function (telos) you understand the essence of that thing.

6. The Prime Mover Aristotle proposed a “first cause” or prime mover. The prime mover did not create the universe. The matter and form of the universe is eternal, but the prime mover sets the universe in motion.

7. Telos of animals and man The telos of an animal defines what is particular about the animal. A good frog is a frog that performs well at its function as a frog, e.g. it catches insects well, swims well, and produces other frogs well. The defining characteristic of a person is rationality. A person’s function is to think rationally. A good person is a rational person.

8. Definition of Man Man is a rational animal Category: animal Defining characteristic: rationality Telos: to live rationally

9. Ethics Aristotle’s ethics also based on teleology. Goodness results from the proper functioning of a thing. A good eye is an eye that sees well. A good heart is a heart that pumps blood well. A good animal or person is one that fulfills their purpose well. Nature has a plan.

10. Virtue ethics People achieve a good life by living rationally, cultivating good character and finding the golden mean – moderation in all things. Two types of virtues: Intellectual virtues: theoretical wisdom and practical wisdom Moral virtues: prudence, justice, courage and temperance. Each moral virtue represents a golden mean between two vices. E.g. courage is a mean between cowardice and foolhardiness.

11. After Chinese New Year The Judeo-Christian tradition

12. Your example of a controversial environmental issue