Heyting 1 Aristotle’s Paramount Cause Aristotle is usually regarded as not only one of the most influential thinkers of ancient history but also of all of human history. He was influential in the development of philosophy's history." His formulation of the 'four causes' provides an in-depth framework for interpreting causality, a concept that remains central to modern philosophical debate. This is only one of his numerous achievements. Aristotle presents the "causes" in the following order: first, the "material cause," then the "formal cause," then the "efficient cause," and finally, the "final cause." In this essay, I will show that Aristotle treated the "final cause" as the most important of the four because the "final cause" has special significance in terms of teleological reasoning and its overarching impact on his philosophical approach. The concept of the “final cause” acts as a cornerstone in Aristotle's philosophical framework, signifying the ultimate purpose and telos that support the existence and growth of all things in the natural universe. For the most part, Aristotle’s other causes seem to lean towards the “what” aspect. For example, the material cause is what it is made of; the formal cause is what it looks like; and finally, the efficient cause is what made it become what it is. The difference between the final cause is that it relates to teleology and what the end goal of the subject is. Aristotle really emphasized how important teloelogy was, and the final cause is almost a direct comparison to that. To truly understand the final cause, it is important to understand how much Aristotle valued the teleological aspect of nature. For example, Aristotle was one of the first philosophers to study biology, and throughout his studies, he applied teleological reasoning to the heart. He believed that the final cause of the heart was to pump blood as well as nutrients throughout the body, and he saw the heart as the central organ, and that the teleological reasoning for the heart is to maintain life. This example truly shows how understanding the final cause is Heyting 2 necessary in order to find the teleological reasoning behind it. Also, it is important to note that Aristotle's emphasis on the final cause fundamentally transformed his philosophical methodology, influencing each element of his inquiries into the natural world, ethics, and metaphysics. This teleological perspective provided him with a lens through which to see the complexity of reality. In his ethics studies, his focus on the ultimate telos of happiness emphasized the importance of virtue, suggesting that moral qualities are required for individuals to reach their full potential, or final cause. In order to expand on Aristotle's metaphysical inquiries, it is essential to investigate how his emphasis on the final cause extends to his thoughts on the nature of reality and the presence of the “Prime Mover”. The thorough contemplation of the Prime Mover, an everlasting and unchanging being that serves as the ultimate final cause in Aristotle's philosophical framework, is central to his metaphysical studies. He claimed that there must be an unmovable mover that sets everything else in motion, because nothing can move until it is pushed or moved by something else. All of this information just goes to emphasize how much Aristotle indeed did think about the Prime Mover, which is quite interesting since he believed the Prime Mover was the “ultimate final cause,” further showing Aristotle’s profoundness for the final cause. This Prime Mover emerges as the quintessential manifestation of teleology in Aristotle's works, embodying the highest achievable purpose and goal for all motion and existence in the cosmos. Its contemplation reveals Aristotle's deep dedication to the final cause, highlighting its ultimate relevance in his philosophical explorations. This concept is shown in Aristotle's “Physics,” when he considers the motion of celestial bodies. He saw the stars' and planets' organized, circular motions, as opposed to the random motions of earthly objects. Aristotle deduced from this that the Prime Mover, a transcendent, intentional force, was in control of these "heavenly bodies." This example shows Heyting 3 Aristotle's belief in the ultimate cause, demonstrating his faith in an underlying purpose that directs the cosmos. Aristotle spoke often about eudiamonia, which can be roughly translated as happiness. The reason I bring this up is because the concept of the final cause develops as a fundamental principle that guides individuals toward their ultimate purpose and satisfaction. The concept that every action and endeavour has a defined end or goal is central to Aristotle's virtue ethics, and how humans can achieve this telos through the growth of moral qualities. According to Aristotle, one can reach eudaimonia by matching one's acts with their inherent purpose. This teleological viewpoint characterizes Aristotle's ethical inquiries, emphasizing the centrality of the final cause in his understanding of human virtue and moral excellence. With all that being said, isn’t it interesting how Aristotle believes that the way to find our telos and to be in a state of eudiamonia is by recognizing our final cause? What I believe he meant by this is that when we recognize our final cause by growing and learning who we are, we can eventually realize our final cause or our nature, and that realization is how one would be content and in a state of eudamonia. This is important because it once again shows how Aristotle thought that without finding our final cause, we cannot be truly content, or we cannot be in a state of eudiamonia. Evidence from Aristotle himself to prove my argument is that "Nature is, therefore, an end, since what each thing is when its growth and being are completed we speak of as being its nature." (Aristotle Physics II) Further proving how Aristotle held the final cause in a higher regard than the rest of the causes, as without the final cause, we humans cannot be in a true state of eudamonia, and in order to do this we must find our nature. In conclusion, it is clear that Aristotle treated the final cause as the most important because Aristotle repeatedly returns to the final cause as the anchor, the ultimate goal that directs Heyting 4 the unfolding of existence through the thorough investigation of the four causes. This teleological viewpoint is more than just a component of his philosophy; it emerges as the foundation upon which his entire framework is built.. It significantly changes his methodology, impacting every aspect of his investigations into nature, ethics, and metaphysics. This focus is not coincidental but stems from Aristotle's realization of the significant importance of teleological reasoning and the final cause. In his opinion, the final cause gives more than simply a causal explanation; it also provides a purpose-driven narrative that explains the underlying nature of things in a world in which we are always clueless. As we dive deeper into Aristotle's philosophy, it becomes evident that his significant appreciation for the final cause is more than just a curiosity, but an essential claim of teleological reasoning's underlying necessity. Heyting 5 Bibliography Shields, C. (2008). Aristotle (E. N. Zalta, Ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy; Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. Klempner, G. (2019, September 2). Aristotle’s prime mover. Ask a Philosopher. https://askaphilosopher.org/2019/09/02/aristotles-prime-mover/ Logan, J. D. (1897). The Aristotelian Teleology. The Philosophical Review, 6(4), 386–400. https://doi.org/10.2307/2176001 Aristotle. “Physics.” The Collected Works of Aristotle , edited by Jonathan Barnes. Princeton University Press, 1984. McClellan, James E. and Harold Dorn, Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction ,3rd. Ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015. SparkNotes: Nicomachean Ethics: Overview. (2019). Sparknotes.com. https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/ethics/summary/ (Aristotle Study Guide: Metaphysics, 2019) https://www.sparknotes.com/biography/aristotlebio/section7/ Introduction to Aristotle: Knowledge, Teleology and the Four Causes. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://youtu.be/yjXOmwXENjc?si=Ws8_EFnZvkv8uHME Heyting 6 .
