back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 5087

[from 'Physics' by Aristotle, in 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes ]

Full Idea

From one point of view we too are ends. What a thing is for is ambiguous.

Gist of Idea

A thing's purpose is ambiguous, and from one point of view we ourselves are ends

Source

Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 194a35)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Physics', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1996], p.38


A Reaction

A really interesting concession from the great teleologist. This opens up what I think of as the 'existentialist' possibility - that we can invent our own purposes. If there are two types of 'telos', which one matters for morality?