Aristotle, Metaphysics, bk. 1 | Metaphysics and the Four Causes | Philosophy Core Concepts

[@duchoang2649]

This is incredibly selfless. Thank you! I go to a traditional Catholic college, and this is something I’ve very much struggled with. Thank you!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad it was useful for you!

[@lewisdraper1]

Just discovered this channel and, honestly, thank you so much for the time you have taken to give these very clear explanations Cheers!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you find the videos useful

[@marinellapitino3866]

1jm1001

[@MelissaBobea]

Gregory you must know that you have saved me for countless philosophy exams, at this point I should attribute my degree to you. Thank you for all that you do. :3

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome

[@kavleenbhullar2190]

This is soooooo clear. Thank you so much for making it!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@nikt7883]

I started reading this book yesterday. Thanks for the support :)

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@simranpreetsingh4909]

Thank you so much sir. The way you explain is fabulous....and its my test tomorrow ,I find it quite helpful

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad it's helpful for you

[@ayoubennaoui6107]

Very clear and efficient explanation.thank you professor

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@doogliebop]

I wish i could take some of your courses, i will have to settle for videos. I actually gain clarity while watching them. Thank you for being my informal teacher🙂

[@GregoryBSadler]

I actually do have a few online courses in my Study With Sadler Teachable academy, and will be adding more

[@MetalGildarts]

This was awesome! Thank you sir!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@joelrivardguitar]

Thanks

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@rodrugstv22]

Thanks for your idea sir. I want also to contribute something that we discussed on our class on Metaphysics. In contrast to Aristotle’s Physics, the Metaphysics presents the four (4) causes-material, formal, efficient, and final-as SYNONYMS. They are unified or every cause is present in each other. They are united from the very beginning. For example: THE TABLE Material Causation: Table-materring like considering wood, plates, food, and people to gather for dining... (So, the material TABLE is not only the wood-soon-to-be-made-table but also other materials needed (food, people) to come up with the essence of a table, which is for Dining) Formal Causation: Table-forming like wooden table with plates full of food on top, with people gathered around for dining... (So the formal TABLE here is not only the template or design of the physical table but the over-all set-up to actualize the purpose of having a table, that is, for dining) Efficient Causation: Table-making like putting the table in place, putting on the plates with food and calling the people to dine... (So the efficient TABLE is not only producing the physical table but also the enactment of what it means to be a table, which is TO HAVE DINNER) Final Causation: Table-finalizing-in this case, table-for-dining, which gather the plates, food, and people. (So the final TABLE is not only its purpose-as dining table-but involves the actual diners, the people, and the plates and food to be dined on). SO, we notice that, for Aristotle: 1. BEING (Ousia) unifies things. There is unity (or gathering) involved: the gathering of matter and form to actualize an end. In our example above, the TABLE unifies things. So there is ACTIVITY or motion in every CAUSE. There is already an activity in the material cause, there is already an activity in formal cause, and so on and so forth. In Physics, the activity is only in the EFFICIENT cause. 2. BEING survives-or is sustained-in the whole ontological kinesis or process-it is not just like a STUFF for production or a PRODUCT of a process (which is the dynamics of Physics). In Metaphysics, Being is itself the WHOLE PROCESS-the whole BECOMING. Its potentiality is one with its actuality. 3. In Physics, the motion is linear-you can spot a beginning and determine an end of the kinesis or movement. In Metaphysics, everything is in every stage of the process, the beginning is also its end. So, it is a circular motion. 4. In Metaphysics, the ONLY DIFFERENCE we can attribute to the causes is the change of modes (or the ways of Being) in every aspect of the movement. Being as in a material mode, in formal mode, in efficient mode, or in final purposive mode. 5. Being can also modify for a specific purpose or end. For example, if TABLE is conceived as for gathering contents for a book-like TABLE OF CONTENTS, the TABLE will have other modes of unifying, but still sustaining as TABLE according to the purpose, like for ordering contents. 6. Being (Ousia) for Aristotle, is an Unmoved Mover-it is God wherein it moves without an external cause-it is the one which causes the move as in drawing things around it. It is the Prime Mover. 7. In its ULTIMATE character, an Unmoved Mover is just like being at Rest. It is so settled in its motion-it is circular, repetitious, its primal existence as Prime Mover is also its ultimate end-or FINAL ETERNAL MOTION. 8. Such UNMOVED MOTION-ultimate OUSIA-can be embraced as our dynamics in this life. Here, we are settled with the cycle of life-we are restful in our repetitive activities inasmuch as the possibilities and actualities are ONE. Our goals and life-purposes are one in our daily preoccupations

[@GregoryBSadler]

This is all interesting, but this is a rather schematic interpretation of Aristotle, going quite a bit beyond the text, and not straight Aristotle

[@rodrugstv22]

@@GregoryBSadler Yes sir. at the first its hard to grasps it. But anyway, I'm a philosophy student and I'm following your channel. Thanks for the response.

[@asabove_sobelow_333]

Is it like a things Energetic Frequency and the "energetic imprint" it leaves behind?

[@GregoryBSadler]

I’ll say no

[@Stereotypicalnerd94]

Just discovered your channel. I’m currently going through A New History of Western Philosophy and this mini-lecture has helped a lot! Thank you so much, Dr. Sadler!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome

[@rafaeljosephgersalina8503]

Thank you sir. This will help me a lot especially those uncommon terms that's too difficult for me to comprehend.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@yousefhatlani]

Hello Dr. Sadler, and thank you as always for these incredibly helpful videos. Are there any secondary source books/guides on the Metaphysics that you would recommend, analyzing either specific chapters or the whole text?

[@GregoryBSadler]

There are not. I spend very little time with secondary literature

[@yousefhatlani]

@@GregoryBSadler Thank you!

[@sol-timotej3464]

I have just started a course in Philosophy and boy, as a Swedish person trying to read these books in English is so hard. This is helping a whole lot!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad it's helpful for you

[@asabove_sobelow_333]

Like reading Heidegger translated into English!

[@JoshV74656]

Even in metaphysics Aristotle's thinking is very linear and mechanical, based on observation of nature and his world. I'm not a historian but it seems like he may have been one of the first scientists. I wonder if he did experimentation as well as observation.

[@GregoryBSadler]

"mechanical" is a rather strange word to describe Aristotle's view

[@JoshV74656]

@@GregoryBSadler Perhaps, I am a mechanical engineer though, we all look at the world thru our own lens.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@@JoshV74656 And yet, we all are able to move from one lens to others

[@MrMattias87]

Clear explanation

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks

[@davidwolfberg8453]

8:19 the epitome of coolness

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hahahah! Possibly in some very small circles

[@davidwolfberg8453]

@@GregoryBSadler By the way, thanks for putting out this video it was really interesting!

[@GregoryBSadler]

@@davidwolfberg8453 You're very welcome!

[@stoodmars]

Thanks a lot for this. I seem to find that I often get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of philosophies/philosophers available today and never know who or what I should be applying to the questions dominating my life at that point in time. I understand you must have a busy schedule, but have you ever thought of creating some playlists relating to the problems which philosophies try to solve? For example, I’m trying to tackle the problem of procrastination and self betterment in life, and I’m interested to hear what the most relevant philosophers (in your opinion) have to say regarding that topic. (Not sure if it would even work, just a thought)

[@GregoryBSadler]

I've thought about it. And I've created some playlists like that, but it sounds here like you're talking more about creating all new videos, and then putting them into a playlist. And, yes, my schedule is super-busy. If/When I get to a sufficient level of support on Patreon, I'll be able to devote more time to producing different sorts of videos. If you want to support, here's the link - patreon.com/sadler