“ The concept of potentiality, in this context,
generally refers to any “possibility” that a
thing can be said to have. Aristotle did not
consider all possibilities the same, and
emphasized the importance of those that
become real of their own accord when
conditions are right and nothing stops them.
Actuality, in contrast to potentiality, is the
motion, change or activity that represents an
exercise or fulfillment of a possibility, when a
possibility becomes real in the fullest sense. “
Previous research for 5 contents
After reading the article “Aristotle: Motion and itsPlace in Nature” I’ve gain the meaning of
“Energeia” and “Entelechia”. Shortly explain, it
means a physical object or a subjective theory that
is in present or will be a possibility in various
forms; as “being at-work, and being at-end”.
To fully understand the main core of this passage
you have to dig the meaning of each word; like
what is potential? and what is actual? For me, I
simplify it to two concepts. The first one is:
foreground and background as in a painting;
foreground is like Energeia that is still and certain
in organic shapes (physical objects: humans, plants,
animals etc..), thus background are the negative
parts that have possibilities and uncertain
movements (when you assume you are the
“physical object” in the painting). The second is
condense the theory into a mathematic word
which is “Dichotomy”: from one element branch
into two contradictory elements which is totally
different but when they combine it’s the same
thing; thus I come up with a theory that it is like
the “X and Y axis” which is totally two different
positions but a whole theory when united.
