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Number of Pages 5
This research paper: This is a 5 page paper discussing the analogy of art in Aristotle’s “Physics” and the study of nature. Aristotle uses art as an analogy to differentiate between natural things and those which are a result of causes. Natural things such as animals, plants and elements exist “by nature” and have the capability of moving, growing and altering themselves whereas other things, such as artifacts, can only be changed by something or someone else moving or changing them; in other words external causes. By using art and the artist as an analogy to explain this better, Aristotle provides a simple example for the logic of the argument. In order for objects of art to be complete, they must undergo four causes which consist of the “material cause” (the materials needed to make a thing); the “formal cause” which is essentially the pattern needed for the thing and is planned by the artist; the “efficient cause” which is the force responsible for bringing the thing together (the artist constructing the piece); and the “final cause” considered the end or purpose of the piece. While artifacts require all of these elements to exist, things which exist “by nature”, the matter is there all along and does not require causes to exist. Aristotle could have tried to explain this concept without the use of art and the artist as an analogy (and he also provides building a house as a useful visual construction for the causes) but the use of this analogy proves to be highly successful in clarifying his principle of nature. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
File: D0_TJArart1.rtf
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