Finalizm biologiczny a problemy ontologiczne: perspektywa arystotelesowska
Biological finalism and ontological problems: Aristotelian prospect

Summary/Abstract: The article studies a following problem: are there in Aristotle’s legacy any elements that can contribute to present debate on the notion of function? And if there are any, then what are these elements? In order to answer to these questions the author begins with referring to the present state of this debate. Then, he presents some pointers that eventually can make his investigation successful. First of all, he introduces these works where Aristotle considers the nature, and possibilities of explanatory ultimate causes. Aristotelian finalism, however, often was misinterpreted. Therefore the author, before using these texts for the present debate, gives a critical judgment of erroneous interpretations, previously involved into the discussion. Afterwards, he shows how Aristotelian ideas can contribute to the actual debate on its different levels: realism, reductionism, functional unity, normativity, persuasive power and possibilities of theory that unifies different functions. Concluding, the author defines relations that emerge between Aristotelian theory and present theories.

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