Metaphysics
A. Title and Composition
B. Knowledge is systematic and hierarchical
sensation, memory, experience, art, knowledge, wisdom
distinction bt. experience and art
one can know the higher without knowing the lower
study of theory: not practice, not useful
WISDOM (sofiva): knowledge of the causes and principles and attributes of being qua being
not the knowledge of everything
there are four causes: progress of their discovery
which cause is primary
mathematics and the final cause
C. General critique of predecessors: principles not appropriate to subject
i. Pythagoreans: number does not explain physics (movement)
ii. Platonic Metaphysics: unwritten doctrines
[priority of genus
superfluous entities
third man]
form/mathematical number
substance/accident distinction gone,
useless for explaining sensibles moving
D. Book B
i. B.1 a description of the method of aporia and lusis
philosophical limitations of the method
conservatism, constraint by the past
ii. Structure of B
1. What is the unity of metaphysics? 1-4
all causes?
axioms?
all substances?
all properties of substances?
2. Population questions
insensible substances? 5
mathematicals 12
3. What are the Principles
genus or elements 6
highest genus 7
universals/particulars 8
limited in number/kind 9
perishable/imperishable 10
being/unity as principles 11
universal/individual 13 cf. 8
E. The General Science
Book G 1-2. how the science of being qua being is one science
focal unity (pros hen; cf. paronymy)
substance is the focus
science of one
G 3-8: Principle of Non-Contradiction
PNC: the same attribute cannot at the same time belong and not belong to the same subject in the same respect
PNC is a cause of being
it is a cause of knowing
if a man is to know anything, he must know PNC
therefore, it is the clearest principle and least doubtful
PNC – no direct proof, dialectical “elenctic” proof
a. man means two-footed rational animal
man is a two-footed rational animal and is not a two-footed rational animal
terms mean something – essences
if no PNC essential traits will be accidents
won’t convey the ti esti of a thing
accident – essence confusion
b. Socrates seems to be to be tanned.
reports of sensation need appropriate qualifications
F. New Doctrine of Substance: ZHQ
Categorial being
substance: ti esti (what is it? answer: universal) and tode ti (particular)
Categories: not predicated of a subject; not present in a subject
What is the substance of substance?
i. substrate: leads to prime matter
ii. essence (to; tiv h\n ei\nai):
Advant: what a thing is per se; a universal identical with the tode ti!
Disadvant: open to non-substances; like a Platonic Form
iii. genus: too general
iv. universal (kaq j o{lou): what is common; Platonic Form
Advant.: we know the universal (but Platonic Forms are individuals)
Disadvant.: substance will not be peculiar to a thing
there will be many substances in the same thing
species, genus, etc.
genus will be more substantial (cf. the problem with the substrate)
genus animal will be two and four (or no) footed
“the third man”
Book Z.16-17 a new start: most “substances” are potentialities
substance as a cause of substance
why is one thing predicated of another
why is the matter some definite thing
Book H. Matter and its Form as Cause
form may be a differentia of matter (as with Democritus’ atomic positions)
e.g. threshold is wood in a position
substance
/ \
matter form
/ \ / \
matter form matter form
stuff shape genus differentia
e.g. bone femur animal two-footed
what is in the definition of the substance?
how are these parts unified?
ultimately by matter/form, potentiality/actuality
Book Q Potentiality, Actuality and Activity
Potentialities (dunameis)
Activities Changes
active (teach) passive (to be taught)
capacity (has Ph.D.) potentiality (has matriculated)
activity (teaching) actuality (educated)
complete at any time complete at end of process
dancing house building
substance as activity
god is pure activity