Final Cause
Submitted by schong on October 10, 2008 - 9:59pm.
Opinion | Philosophical Essay
Finish Line
I learned that every being has its final end or purpose. One cannot go away with this, as I may say. Once an object exists, it will always have purpose for itself which will be beneficial for other beings. I will be more concrete. A pencil has a purpose as a tool for writing. If one uses it for writing, he experiences the benefits of that pencil. However, unlike living beings, non-living beings, such as pencil, should have someone to do their purposes for them. This is to say that I will not benefit from them unless I use their proper purposes. Moreover, man is very distinct from other living beings like plants and animals in performing his purpose in life. I can never fulfill my purpose if I do not know what it is. In the same manner, I cannot go to Manila if I do not know where Manila is. When I heard that Aristotle said that every being has final cause, three questions dawned on my mind. These questions are very much similar with the problem of knowing (“Can I know?”, “How can I know?” and “What can I know?”). However, my questions go in this way; “Can I go?”, “How can I go?” and “Where can I go?”
I know that every man or being has final end but now I ask myself this question, “Can I go to that final end?” A big “yes” is my answer for that. I have the capacity to have and to reach a purpose in life. My entire being is ordained to fulfill my purpose.
Second is “How can I go to that final end?” Now that I know that I have the capability to go and to fulfill my final purpose, I should now plan on how I can go there. I should set my every little action towards it so that in the end I will reach my goal. I will be tackling this more on the third question.
“Where can I go?” The answer to this question should be based from the second question. For example, if I want to become an engineer but I am here in the seminary, this means that I am acting against my purpose. I should base my answer here from my capability to go somewhere else. I should first look at my ability whether I have everything what I need in order to fulfill my purpose. Likewise, if I want to go to Baguio City but the gasoline of my car will only last up to Pangasinan, I should already decide whether I will continue or not. I have two options to do if my capability is not fitted in my purpose. I can either set myself on other purpose which can be realized with my capacity or I can strive more in order to reach my purpose.
All my answers for these questions should be put into action in order for me to reach my final purpose or the finish line of my life.
Pardon me but ...
Submitted by Pmel on October 11, 2008 - 12:08am.
It sounded to me that you're wavering the above article as "pseudo-philosophical" and a somewhat sisyphean attempt, worthy above all of the works posted on this site. Is that an oxymoron or what?
I was just so tempted to say, he can write what he wants and in writing he'll improve. I almost forgot that everyone's entitled to give their own opinion on what is written.
But so far, you've succeeded in bashing a lot of people here on the pretext of decency and I am just itching to know what you have in stored to justify your behaviour. Am I your friend? Perhaps. Who knows? Even enemies find themselves liking their malicious entity. :/
My apology then if I've
Submitted by J. R. Aleria on October 11, 2008 - 6:15pm.
My apology then if I've offended your sensiblities. I mean no bad intentions for saying those things above. As you said, "everyone's entitled to give their own opinion on what is written." And, of course, your aforementioned temptation to say whatever is in your head is of course justifiable as is mine.
my part
Submitted by rom26factolerin on October 11, 2008 - 7:10pm.
Would i be less than a man if i didn't comment or make interest in this post?
sometimes lip-sealing action comes naturally when you are faced with a yawn provoking topic.
here's one Filipino quote for you:
"ang palay ay pagkain ng manok, isabog mo ito sa lupa at mag-aagawan silang tukain ito. Ngunit kung ilalagay mo ito sa sisidlang garapon at ibabato sa kanila, gaano man nila kagusto ito magtatakbuhan sila papalayo"
check out Neil Gaiman's Black Orchid on: http://www.blah-blahblogs
Seems like I am the only one
Seems like I am the only one who got that interest of this post, or I am yet to be proved wrong. Well, the thing is: Schong wrote it as just like any other writer who, just for the heck of it, would like to try their hand on the so-called philosophical explorations or something like it, and yet, just like the others before him, wrote it in a way that is not easy enough to understand, or just plainly uninteresting. But whatever it is, I still admire the author for providing us something to think about, especially on something that has to do with Final Cause, reminding me that of the noble Sysiphus.