Aristotle believed that goodness exists in its own right. He defined supreme goodness as happiness for all. This is called eudaimonia. However from this definition a problem arises. Different people have different views on what happiness is (For example; Hitler thought that by having an ethnically cleansed race, everybody would be happy. But most people are happy with a variety of cultures and races). To overcome this problem, Aristotle placed people into three categories;
- Those who love pleasure (most people)
- Those who love honour (politicians) and
- Those who love contemplation (philosophers).
Aristotle contended the four causes, which explained why something existed the way that it did. These consisted of the material cause; what something is made of, the efficient cause; what brought it into being, the formal cause; characteristics that determine its categorisation and the final cause; what it is for.
The final cause is the most important cause as when the purpose or end, telos, is known we are able to see somethings full perfection. Aristotle argued that it is only when something is achieving what it is supposed to, it is obtaining its full goodness.
Aristotle was aware that the world was in a constant state of change. He questioned this and concluded that something must have brought everything else into a state of change, without changing itself. He called this the ‘unmoved mover’, which existed beyond the spacio-temporal universe (outside time and space). Aristotle cam to believe it was out of love that the ‘unmoved mover’ began change and other things changed by changing themselves.
Aristotle named this being as God. He believed that God was the efficient and final cause of the universe, on whom all creation depended and who was the source of justice, truth, beauty and goodness. However, God was not to be considered in a personal way and has no need for the universe or its contents.
Aristotle thought that God was extremely happy because he contemplates himself. He is unlike everything else in the universe as he has no potential to change.
For Aristotle God was a being that never did anything, he neither creates or sustains. Peter Vardy stated Aristotle’s God is the cause in the form of the ‘Great Attractor’. He attracts all things as he is supremely good. We are attracted to him as our final aim is to be with him.
