Models of Teleological Explanation


Larry Wright:

The function of A in C is B =

Andrew Woodfield:

C does A in order to do B =

Aristotle:

A belongs to C because of (for the sake of) B just in case there is a syllogism demonstrating the connection which meets the following criteria:

(ii) is like Woodfield's (ii) and (iii) is like Woodfield's (i).

So we get this sort of syllogism to explain "Why does C have A?" Answer, C is A for the sake of final cause B:

Examples:

Post An. II, 11 (revised)

Parts of Animals. III, 2

Parts of Animals. IV, 10

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