Novy Metaphysics SP08

De Anima Notes

(Book II # 1, 2, 4, 6, 12; Book III #3, 4, 8)

Hylomorphism (hylo: matter + morphē: form):

1. A physical object is a unity – form + matter

2. Matter & form exist, but neither has its own existence.

3. Explaining Change: Acorns become Oak Trees

Mechanistic worldview	Hylomorphic worldview
Matter arranged in one way will, due to mechanical laws, rearrange itself into another	One substance strives after the form of another; a teleological world
"Oak tree" is just a label for a certain arrangement of matter	"Oak tree" exists as an objective goal that matter pursues (teleological worldview)
"Oak tree" has no reality apart from particular oak trees	"Oak tree" is an objective reality apart from any particular oak tree.
	Different oak trees are different pieces of matter all governed by the same form

4. Change: If one thing has becomes another thing,
1. then those two things must have something in common which endures (matter)
2. there must be something they do not have in common that drives the change (form)
3. \change happens when matter loses one form and gains another

What is a soul?

5. A soul is the capacity of a living being to engage in the activities that are characteristic of living things of its natural kind
1. Soul is causally responsible for the animate behavior (the life activities) of a living thing
2. Soul is the efficient cause (as the initiator of change and movement in the body)
3. Soul is the final cause (as the body’s goal) and
4. Soul is the formal cause (as the body’s organizing principle)
6. Degrees of soul
1. Nested hierarchy of soul functions / activities

Nutritive soul (plants)	Growth, nutrition, reproduction
Sensitive soul (all animals)	Locomotion, perception
Rational soul (human beings)	Intellect

Human Souls

7. Different human beings are different hunks of matter, which have the same form

a. Soul is not an entity, but a life principle – the aspect of the person that provides the powers or attributes characteristic of the human being.

b. Problem: Doesn’t seem to have room for an individual soul that survives death.

Minds: Humans as Knowing Souls

1^st potentiality (matter)	2^nd potentiality (matter)
	1^st actuality (soul)	2^nd actuality (soul)
Capacity to learn to speak French (an infant, etc.)	A French speaker who is silent	A French speaker speaking French at this moment

8. Mind: the part of the soul with which the soul knows
1. Existing things are either sensible or thinkable
2. We can distinguish between X and what it is to be X
3. \These are known by different faculties
9. Soul is like the hand – the tool of tools
1. Mind is the form of forms
2. Sense is the form of sensibles
3. when mind is aware of X, it is necessarily aware of X with an image
4. Images are like sensuous content except they contain no matter