What is the purpose? This is one of the many questions that have plagued humans since the dawn of rational existence. Many philosophers have attempted to answer this inquiry; however, Aristotle’s system is particularly effective in discerning an answer. While Aristotle’s provides a systematic approach to the purpose of existence, human or otherwise, revolving around actions, Plato offers other valuable insights into the purpose of a philosopher and when he/she can achieve it. Through implementing both Aristotle’s system of causes and potentiality/actuality and Plato’s views on knowledge, the soul and the afterlife; one can see how the Platonic perspective of when a philosopher actualizes his/her final cause is different than that of Aristotle.
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The material cause is defined as “that out of which a thing comes to be” or what something is made out of (Physics 194b23). What the thing is or it’s shape is called the formal cause (Physics 194b27).” The essential cause is what brings about or is “the primary sources” of the thing (Physics 19429). And the final cause is “‘that for the sake of which’ a thing is done”, also known as the purpose (Physics 194b32).” These four causes can be grouped together into two main causes, material and form. Materials, being what things are made of but not the things themselves, can also be considered potential things. Potential things are things that do not yet exist but have the capability to exist.” With material equating to potential, form equates to actual. The form of something is the actualized thing, or “the existence of a thing” (Metaphysics …show more content…
He believes happiness is tied to fulling ones desires. A philosopher desires learning above all else (Republic 587a). The soul and the body are very distinct in Platonic dialogues, with the body and the pains and desires that come from it being something to be overcome. The body acts as a filter between what is the truth and the soul inhabiting it, thus barring the soul from true wisdom and knowledge (Phaedo 66a). Plato believes that to attain true knowledge, the philosopher must separate him/herself from his/her body to the fullest extent (Phaedo 65a). Plato writes, “It really has been shown to us that, if we are ever to have pure knowledge, we must escape from the body and observe things in themselves with the soul by itself (Phaedo 66e).” He goes on to say that philosophers actively seek to distance themselves from their abhorrent body (Phaedo 65d). This distancing of the soul and body is in preparation for the separation of the soul and body (death), thus, philosophers could be said to be practicing for death (Phaedo 64a,67d). According to Plato’s view of achieving knowledge and therefore being happy and fulling a philosopher’s final cause, either a philosopher can never actualize his/her final cause or he/she achieves his/her purpose after death (Phaedo
The material cause is defined as “that out of which a thing comes to be” or what something is made out of (Physics 194b23). What the thing is or it’s shape is called the formal cause (Physics 194b27).” The essential cause is what brings about or is “the primary sources” of the thing (Physics 19429). And the final cause is “‘that for the sake of which’ a thing is done”, also known as the purpose (Physics 194b32).” These four causes can be grouped together into two main causes, material and form. Materials, being what things are made of but not the things themselves, can also be considered potential things. Potential things are things that do not yet exist but have the capability to exist.” With material equating to potential, form equates to actual. The form of something is the actualized thing, or “the existence of a thing” (Metaphysics …show more content…
He believes happiness is tied to fulling ones desires. A philosopher desires learning above all else (Republic 587a). The soul and the body are very distinct in Platonic dialogues, with the body and the pains and desires that come from it being something to be overcome. The body acts as a filter between what is the truth and the soul inhabiting it, thus barring the soul from true wisdom and knowledge (Phaedo 66a). Plato believes that to attain true knowledge, the philosopher must separate him/herself from his/her body to the fullest extent (Phaedo 65a). Plato writes, “It really has been shown to us that, if we are ever to have pure knowledge, we must escape from the body and observe things in themselves with the soul by itself (Phaedo 66e).” He goes on to say that philosophers actively seek to distance themselves from their abhorrent body (Phaedo 65d). This distancing of the soul and body is in preparation for the separation of the soul and body (death), thus, philosophers could be said to be practicing for death (Phaedo 64a,67d). According to Plato’s view of achieving knowledge and therefore being happy and fulling a philosopher’s final cause, either a philosopher can never actualize his/her final cause or he/she achieves his/her purpose after death (Phaedo