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I was reading Aristotle’s function argument and I’m having trouble figuring out if things could have multiple functions. It seems like he implies that things cannot have multiple functions but this is not said explicitly.

student 2457
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  • Do you mean multiple ends? – David Gudeman Dec 15 '23 at 16:20
  • Aren’t an end and a function different? I’m specifically referring to when he looks for example for the function of a bodily part. Could they not have multiple? – student 2457 Dec 15 '23 at 16:32
  • An artifact can have more than one. – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Dec 15 '23 at 16:47
  • Please give the reference to the passage in Aristotle's work, which you are reading; thanks. – Jo Wehler Dec 15 '23 at 17:01
  • the passage is in the nicomachean ethics I 7.1097b22-a20 – student 2457 Dec 15 '23 at 17:32
  • No, they aren't the same. Just that Aristotle is a lot more famous for his comments on ends than on function, so I thought you might be using the wrong word. Never mind :) – David Gudeman Dec 15 '23 at 18:14
  • Can explain how they are different? Because the more that I think about it it seems to me that end (telos) and function are the same and can be used interchangeably in his function argument. – student 2457 Dec 15 '23 at 18:51
  • I'm not familiar with Aristotle's discussion of function, but from what you describe, a function can be an end, but not all ends are functions, since a function always has a purpose outside itself, but an end can be its own purpose. – David Gudeman Dec 15 '23 at 23:31
  • here is a good discussion on functions "https://iep.utm.edu/func-exp/". the topic is quite complicated with differing viewpoints. Personally I think a function is an ability ascribed to some thing by humans that seems important, in one view the function of the heart is to pump blood but on another view the function of the hart could be held to be noise-making. – Richard Bamford Dec 16 '23 at 12:59
  • Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. – Community Dec 17 '23 at 17:46
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    Does this answer your question? Can a thing have more than one final cause? – Geremia Mar 16 '24 at 21:37

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