Aristotle's Category Theory: Briefly Describe Research Proposal

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3. Aristotle's Theory of Change

In his Theory of Change, Aristotle attempts to explore the nature of how ad why things evolve, or change in form from one object or concept to another. One of the greatest wonders of man, which is still even debates today, is he process of how things evolve to be. Well, Aristotle presented his Theory of Change to account for how and why objects develop into varying forms.

This theory then posits the idea that matter is the main fundamental component of change. In many cases, when an object changes, it is the matter that changes, and not the more abstract form hat embodies that matter. In this idea, objects evolve from what was previously non-existent. The objects themselves do not appear from nowhere, but rather that they are morphed in their physical form from another form. For example, a pencil comes non-pencilness, which is typical from a tree, and so on. Thus, the object existed before as something other than it exists now, and through a change in its material form and composition of matter, it changes and becomes what it is today. Therefore, Aristotle is positing the idea that all objects are derived from something else through a change in material matter. Thus, men were not dropped down onto the earth, but rather evolved into man from some sort of non-manness with a change, or a multitude of changes, in their physical matter. This helps represent a very early scientific view of man evolving from other form of matter.

4. Aristotle's theory of four grades of potentiality and actuality

Also incorporated into the construction of Aristotle's complex philosophy is the notion of potentiality and actuality.

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Aristotle also believes in the differentiation of actually acting and the ability to act. This idea is formulates Aristotle's concept of the four degrees of potentiality and actuality.

According to this thinking, an object has different degrees of potentiality and actuality. Take for example a packet of seeds which are still contained within their paper wrapping. These seeds have a certain degree of potentiality in that they have the potential to sprout and grow into plants, if taken care of and given the right circumstances such as soil and regular watering. However, while they are in the seeds, they are not actually fulfilling that potentiality. While they are in the packet they are actual being jus seeds, with no progression towards sprouting -- yet. Therefore, their level of actuality is different for the seeds than its level of potentiality.

This is a relatively simple example, but the thought behind the theory can be extended to cover much more complex situations and objects. Aristotle assigns four notions of potentiality and actuality. The first potentiality shows that the subject has the capacity to actually do something. The first actuality is when that first potential is actually reached. The second potentiality is highly related to the first state, where the subject has the potential to exercise some act, but the potentiality of acting on it is increased based on an increase in potential. For example, one has a higher level of potential to do geometry when one already knows how to do it. Lastly is the second actuality, when one can act on one's potential at any….....

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