Tea at Trianon: Aristotle, Evolution, and the Four Causes

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, August 15, 2025

Aristotle, Evolution, and the Four Causes

From Mater et Magistra:

Unlike modern systems that often isolate phenomena into narrow frames (material, empirical, or mathematical), Aristotle offers a comprehensive framework that respects both the physical world and the metaphysical realities that give it coherence. Aristotle’s logic begins with the principle of non-contradiction: something cannot both be and not be at the same time in the same way. Aristotelian philosophy remains a firm foundation for judging logic because it is rooted in the nature of being itself and seeks to understand not only what things are, but also why they are.
From this flows a rich tradition of syllogistic reasoning, definition, classification, and demonstration: designed not merely to manipulate symbols, but to reflect truth about reality. Here's a simple example illustrating the Aristotelian principle of non-contradiction, which states that “the same attribute cannot at the same time belong and not belong to the same subject in the same respect.”
Example: Let us consider a door. At a given moment, we assert: “The door is open.” If we also say, “The door is not open,” at that same moment, in the same way or respect (i.e., physically), we have violated the principle of non-contradiction. It cannot be both open and not open at the same time in the same respect. (Read more.)

Also at Mater et Magistra:

When to Think It Through
If the decision:
Has long-term financial consequences
Impacts your family or others deeply
Involves commitments of time or energy over months or years
Is irreversible or high-risk
Affects your health, job, education, or spiritual life
...then it’s worth a deliberate, thoughtful process. Pray about it. Talk it through. Make a pros and cons list. Consider the logical outcomes. Set goals and measure them against your values.
This is your classic discernment zone: the domain where logic, prayer, wise counsel, and a bit of research serve you best.
When to Just Go For It
But sometimes, the decision:
Involves a small or medium commitment of time or money
Is experimental, creative, or joyful in nature
Can be reversed or revised if needed
Lights a fire in your imagination
Has no perfect timing
...then it may be best to go for it. Try the new project. Plant the garden. Sign up for the workshop. Take the family road trip. Move the furniture around. Order the book. Say yes.
These decisions don’t need a spreadsheet. They need a little courage and a willingness to see what happens. (Read more.)