Term Papers on The Effects Of Aristotelian Teleological Thought On Darwins Mechanistic Views Of

Term Paper Title	The Effects Of Aristotelian Teleological Thought On Darwins Mechanistic Views Of
# of Words	2235
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	8.94

The Effects of Aristotelian Teleological Thought on Darwin's Mechanistic Views of
Evolution

Jordan Hoffman

     The need to  understand organisms  has been a much sought goal of
science since its birth as biology.  History shows Aristotle and Charles Darwin
as  two of the most powerful biologists of all time.   Aristotle's teleological
method  was supported widely  for over 2,000 years.  One scientist remarks that
the Aristotelian teleology "has been the ghost, the unexplained mystery which
has haunted biology through its whole  history" (Ayala, 10).  If Aristotle's
approach has  frightened biology, then Darwin, who actually nicknamed himself
the "Devils Chaplain," and his idea of natural selection has virtually dissected
Aristotle's ghost.  While Aristotle explained biology through a plan and a
purpose, Darwin debated that randomness and chaos are responsible for the
organic world as we know it.  Guiseppe Montalenti, an Italian geneticist and
philosopher of  biology, wrote  that Darwin's ideas were a rebellion against
thought in  the Aristotelian-scholastic way  (Ayala, 4).   In order to
understand how Darwinism can be considered  a  revolt against Aristotle, we must
first inspect Aristotle's ideas and thoughts about biology.
     Aristotle used teleology to explain the harmony and final results of the
earth.  Teleology is the study of the purpose of nature.  Aristotle believed
that scientists should follow the plan adopted by mathematicians in their
demonstrations of astronomy, and after weighing the phenomena presented by
animals, and their several parts, follow consequently to understand the causes
and the end results.  Using this method, Aristotle constructed causes for body
parts and processes of the human body, such as  sundry types of  teeth.
Aristotle elucidated on this topic:  "When we have ascertained the thing's
existence we inquire as to its nature…when we know the fact we ask the reason"
(Evans,  82).
     Despite Aristotle's frequent teleological explanations, he did warn
against teleology leading to misinterpretations of facts.  In a short writing on
the reproduction of bees in Generation of Animals, Aristotle was troubled that
there were insufficient observations on the subject, and warns that his theory
is dependent on facts supporting the theory.  One twentieth century biologist
believes  that  Aristotle did not often enough follow his own advice.  Ayala
printed that Aristotle's "error was not that he used teleological explanations
in biology, but that he extended the concept of teleology to the non-living
world."(56)
     Some biologists say Aristotle used teleology so often because order and
purpose, both in the universe and life, were immensely important to him.
Aristotle thought it was both ridiculous and impossible that chance, which is
not linked with order, could be used to explain occurrences in biology.  In one
of his writings, he criticized Empedocles  for the use of chance to describe
biology.   Aristotle believed that Empedocles, then, was in error when he said
that many of the characters presented by  animals were only  the results of
incidental occurrences   during their evolutionary growth.
     As a  vitalist,   Aristotle's philosophy also had a powerful influence
on what  he wrote.  His beliefs are described in On the Soul  and On the
Generation of Animals.  These thoughts can be epitomized into four main  areas
of Aristotle's vitalistic belief:

1.  He connects the life of an organism with its psyche.

2.  He finds purposefulness and organic unity as the most significant sections
of vitalism.

3.  He debates that the entire body, rather than the parts, should be taken into
account.

4.  He emphasizes the soul as the final goal.

Looking at these four traditions, it is not shocking that Aristotle thought that
single limbs, such as an arm, was a good description of organisms.  This could
be compared to a house being called bricks and mortar.  Rather than concentrate
on individual variability and individual pieces, Aristotle believed tha...

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