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Single Idea 19376

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes ]

Full Idea

Any machine ...is best defined in terms of its final cause, so that in the description of the parts it is therefore apparent in what way each of them is coordinated with the others for the intended us.

Gist of Idea

A machine is best defined by its final cause, which explains the roles of the parts

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (The Human Body is a sort of Machine [1683], p.290), quoted by Richard T.W. Arthur - Leibniz 3 'Machines'

Book Ref

Arthur, Richard T.W.: 'Leibniz' [Polity 2014], p.71

A Reaction

We would use the 'function', an inherently teleological concept, and a concept which is almost indispensable for giving an illuminating description of the world. If nature is dispositional, it points towards things. Leibniz views persons as machines.

The 17 ideas with the same theme [aspects of nature are defined by purpose]:

2684 Aristotle needed to distinguish teleological description from teleological explanation [Irwin on Aristotle]
5227 The nature of any given thing is determined by its end [Aristotle]
5866 It is folly not to order one's life around some end [Aristotle]
5086 The nature of a thing is its end and purpose [Aristotle]
5087 A thing's purpose is ambiguous, and from one point of view we ourselves are ends [Aristotle]
5091 Teeth and crops are predictable, so they cannot be mere chance, but must have a purpose [Aristotle]
2800 The best instruments have one purpose, not many [Aristotle]
4826 Nature has no particular goal in view, and final causes are mere human figments [Spinoza]
19376 A machine is best defined by its final cause, which explains the roles of the parts [Leibniz]
2195 We can discover some laws of nature, but never its ultimate principles and causes [Hume]
18237 Without men creation would be in vain, and without final purpose [Kant]
5591 Reason must assume as necessary that everything in a living organism has a proportionate purpose [Kant]
7176 'Purpose' is like the sun, where most heat is wasted, and a tiny part has 'purpose' [Nietzsche]
4422 The end need not be the goal, as in the playing of a melody (and yet it must be completed) [Nietzsche]
7368 Originally there were no reasons, purposes or functions; since there were no interests, there were only causes [Dennett]
6538 We need a notion of teleology that comes in degrees [Lycan]
21045 Teleological thinking is essential for social and political issues [Sandel]