Aristotle and John Wesley: On Being Truly Human :: Essays Papers

Aristotle and fanny Wesley On Being Truly HumanMany ideas presented by John Wesley are similar to those presented by Aristotle. These similarities become apparent in various areas, especially in the idea that each person has potential that dissolve be actualized. Be suffice these similarities are apparent, the thoughts of Aristotle whoremaster easily be employed to assist in recording many of Wesleys thoughts. Specifically, the discussion of virtue presented in Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics can assist superstar in understanding Wesleys ideas of affections and tempers, the transit of Christian perfection, means of grace, and the importance of community.AristotleBefore moving on to discuss the similarities between the thought of John Wesley and of Aristotle, it is essential to understand many basic Aristotelian concepts. Prevalent in many of his works, Aristotle discusses how objective lenss can change. In the Metaphysics and On the Soul, Aristotle presents his idea of th e four causes, including material cause, stiff cause, efficient cause, and net cause (Robinson 15-22). Employing the illustration of a potter molding a trunk mug, the material cause is the clay, the basic matter that is the subject of the change. As the clay undergoes the process of being molded, it is being made into a specific shape that has specific functions. This shape and function is called the melodic line or formal cause of the object. In this case, the clay is changing into the form of a mug that is purposed to hold liquids. It should be noted that material is never without form. Before the clay was changed into the form of a mug, it was in the form of a lump of clay that has its own specified function. Each time matter undergoes change there is an agentive role responsible for the process. The agent is the efficient cause. In this case, the potter is responsible for transforming the clay matter into the mug form. The final cause, or the end, occurs when the m atter is made into a particular form. Although every object has many median(a) ends, all these ends lead to a single last-ditch end. The mug, for instance, can be used as a paperweight or as a decoration, but the net end that is suitable for the mug form is to be an object that holds liquid. The process of an object functioning appropriately to its form, which is the actualization of its potential, is aimed at attaining this ultimate end.Aristotle and John Wesley On Being Truly Human Essays PapersAristotle and John Wesley On Being Truly HumanMany ideas presented by John Wesley are similar to those presented by Aristotle. These similarities become apparent in various areas, especially in the idea that each person has potential that can be actualized. Because these similarities are apparent, the thoughts of Aristotle can easily be employed to assist in understanding many of Wesleys thoughts. Specifically, the discussion of virtue presented in Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics can assist one in understanding Wesleys ideas of affections and tempers, the process of Christian perfection, means of grace, and the importance of community.AristotleBefore moving on to discuss the similarities between the thought of John Wesley and of Aristotle, it is essential to understand many basic Aristotelian concepts. Prevalent in many of his works, Aristotle discusses how objects can change. In the Metaphysics and On the Soul, Aristotle presents his idea of the four causes, including material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, and final cause (Robinson 15-22). Employing the illustration of a potter molding a clay mug, the material cause is the clay, the basic matter that is the subject of the change. As the clay undergoes the process of being molded, it is being made into a specific shape that has specific functions. This shape and function is called the form or formal cause of the object. In this case, the clay is changing into the form of a mug that is purposed to hold liquids. It should be noted that material is never without form. Before the clay was changed into the form of a mug, it was in the form of a lump of clay that has its own specified function. Each time matter undergoes change there is an agent responsible for the process. The agent is the efficient cause. In this case, the potter is responsible for transforming the clay matter into the mug form. The final cause, or the end, occurs when the matter is made into a particular form. Although every object has many intermediate ends, all these ends lead to a single ultimate end. The mug, for instance, can be used as a paperweight or as a decoration, but the ultimate end that is suitable for the mug form is to be an object that holds liquid. The process of an object functioning appropriately to its form, which is the actualization of its potential, is aimed at attaining this ultimate end.