LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Tapuac District, Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Discipline: Philosophy of Man and the Language

Topic/s: Aristotle’s Rational-Political Animal

Objectives:
1. Explain Aristotle’s four causes.
2. Connect Aristotle’s four causes to his understanding of human nature.
3. Assess his notion of the ideal habits for the human person.
4. Know the reason why Aristotle describe man by nature a Political Animal.

Discussion:

Introduction
Aristotle is a realist. In contrast to Plato’s idealism. Aristotle banks on the importance of
empirical data in relation to knowledge production. His training in the discipline of biology also
helped him understand the contribution of keen and intelligent observation. Typical of a good
biologist, special interest is placed in the origin, genesis and development of entities and things.
This sensibility for process and gradual development is perhaps the reason why Aristotle
proposes the four causes- material, efficient, formal and final.

Understanding of Reality: The Four Causes

1. Material Cause- stands for the kind of matter used or present in an entity. In the case of a
chair for instance, its material cause maybe wood. Since wood is used in the production
of a chair, the material nature of wood is strong and durable enough to be formed or
assembled into a chair. Otherwise, the creation of an actual chair is impossible.

2. Efficient Cause- refers to that person, situation or factor that changed or transformed one
thing into another. Going back to the example of a chair, it was formed through the
efforts of the carpenter.

3. Formal Cause- stands for the design, shape or form through which a thing assumes an
identity. Signals the arrangement or organization of elements that conditions and sustains
identity of a thing. The case of the planks of wood for instance, are assembled or
arranged to fit in a specific design.
 4. Final Cause- refers to the purpose of an entity. An achieved final end or final cause also
means that the material cause, efficient cause and formal cause of a thing all work well.
In the case of a chair, its main purpose if for sitting.

The Theory of Human Nature

With the four causes, we can now ask the questions: What is the material cause of
man? What is the efficient cause of a man? What is a man’s formal cause? What is the final
cause of a human person?
On general note, a human being for Aristotle has a body and soul. The body is the
flesh- the mater that we can see and feel. Meanwhile, the soul is the animating principle – or
that which makes us alive.

1. What is the material cause of a man?

Material cause of a person is his body. If one wants to understand how a human
being physically operates, a reliable knowledge of human body is needed. For instance,
one can know what one should eat and what food to avoid. Because we have an idea that
our body cannot take in everything, we must exert an effort to distinguish which food be
eaten at a minimum and which food should not enter our system. Otherwise, the well-
being of our body is at stake.
2. What is the efficient cause of a human person?
Aristotle proposes that man is the product of both nature and nurture. This
means that we have natural capacities that are not perfect (in contrast to God) and we live
solely based on instincts (in contrast to animals). From the nature perspective, therefore
Aristotle considers human beings with capacities that are unique to the human species.
However, such capabilities- following the nurture approach- can be improved and
developed when one lives within a society and community.
3. What is the efficient cause of a human person?
Physically, a human being has a design or shape that makes it possible for him to
perform certain distinguishing activities. An example of this design is the bi-pedal
posture which allows man to stand erect and walk in a human-like manner. Now, if the
internal system/make up of a person is problematic (eg. impotence) there might be doubts
over the capacity of the individual for reproduction. Given such sense of order in our
physicality, we can say that the body has to be in a certain design so a human being can
perform certain actions or fulfill certain capacities.
However, if a person is physically incapacitated, can he still be called a human
being? Yes, the person is still a human being even if he has physical constraints. Aristotle
holds that a person’s unique or physical difference when compared to other species is his
rationality. Man is a rational animal.
4. What is the final cause of a man?
Happiness and well being is te final cause of human being. Because of a man’s
rationality, Aristotle holds that such an experience can take place if a man can discipline
 his reason and his body. This means that man should acquire a habit that will make him
always prepared to avoid the extremes. This makes the middle path or a balance
disposition as the only variable and effective way so man can attain the proper end of his
thinking and physical capacities.

The Ideal Goal of a Human Person

The end/goal of a man as happiness and well-being is to be interpreted as a character
disposition- a mindset and an attitude that is always ready to live-out the middle path. For
Aristotle, a virtue is a habit disposed towards action by choice, it exhibits prudence, and it is
defined by reason. With this definition of virtue, we can actually take note of these three
important aspects; (1) freedom of choice (2) the notion of a mean or an in-between, and (3)
reason and prudence. These features, when observed, are core concepts in Aristotle’s image of
the final cause of human existence.
With freedom, being responsible of one’s action is stressed. A person’s maturity and
capacity to own one’s decisions are also invoked.
With the concept of the mean or middle path, Aristotle highlights the need to balance or
weigh the order of things or events. By stressing the middle way we are invited to look ahead -
the possible outcome of a planned action.
Provided there is complimentary relation between freedom and responsibility, the habit of
the mean encourages the virtue of prudence. The prudent person becomes ethically inclined as
he gives careful consideration to the angles, key players and ideas involved in every situation.

Man is by Nature a Political Animal

Before we discuss the meaning of political animal, let us define the word political and
animal. The term political means that when a man is planned to regulate the whole community,
who can take decision and made rules for them. There are three meanings of political in the
phrase “political animal’ in the book of Politics:
1. The natural political behavior of man is attached to the natural character of the polis.
2. It is compared to the bee and generally to all the animals that live in herds.
3. Has the same meaning of the word “social”.
An animal on the other hand, focuses on the needs or desires of one’s self . Who’s actions
display self-interest are often performed without conscious knowing.
Political animal word denotes , who is fight between their groups and who can become a
king for all, where is taking decisions are showing their self interest or social interest. According
to Aristotle, man is by nature a political animal. This means that he is destined by his own nature
to live a sociopolitical being.

Purpose of Life According to Aristotle

The purpose of our lives is to lead a “good life” (basic needs met, happy, etc.) People
come together to form households, households come together to make up villages and cities,
cities come together to make up states, and nations. If organized intelligently our cities, states,
and nations in order to promote living “good lives.”
Man is by Nature a Political Animal
According to Aristotle, living in a society organized intelligently, such as a city, state, or
nation, is what makes us human. Anybody who lives outside the city- state is either a beast or a
god. Therefore, man is a political animal. Man is a “political animal.” It means that man lives in
a more “polis”. Man becomes man among others, living in a society governed by laws and
customs. The man develops his potential and realize its natural end in a social context. This is the
“good life.” This is not an easy life, but a life of virtue is reflected in the highest good
(eudaimonia), often translated as happiness.

Prepared by:

JAMIAH DAWN C. BUGAYONG

PhD- Filipino Student

Noted:

DR. CRISTINA L. JAVIER

Professor