Dear Folks--
I came across this definition of Entelechy among the words Peirce is reputed
to have defined for the Century Dictionay in 1886 (page 404 of Writings of
Charles S Peirce A Chronological Edition Volume 5 1884-1886) -- I was
looking for a definition of form.
BEGIN QUOTE
ENTGELECHY, n. CGr entelecheia, word invented by Aristotle, from en telei
echon, having atained the end.)
Literally, attainment, realization; opposed to power, potentiality, and
nearly the same as energy or act (actuality). The idea of entelechy is
connected with that of FORM (caps from piat), the idea of power with that of
matter. Iron is potentially in its ore, which to be made from must be
worked. When this is done, the iron exists in entelechy. The passage from
power to entelechy takes place by means of change (kinesis). This is the
imperfect energy, the perfected energy is the entelechy. Tirst entelechy is
being in working order, second entelechy is being in action. The soul is
said to be first entelechy, that is, a thing precisely like a mani in every
respect, except that it would not feel, would b e body without a sould; but
a soul once infused is not lost whenever the man is asleep. This is the
Aristotelian sense, but Cudworth and others have used entelechy and firt
entelechy somewhat diferently. Cudworth calls his plastic nature or vital
principle the first entelechy, and leibniz terms a monad an entelechy.
END OUOTE
My apologies if I'm repeating previously posted material.
Cheers,
Jim Piat
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