What is natural philosophy, and why does it matter today? In this edition of In Focus, Dr. John Brungardt explores the meaning, scope, and enduring significance of natural philosophy—the ancient discipline that investigates change, motion, and the principles of the physical cosmos. Drawing on the insights of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, Brungardt traces how natural philosophy forms the foundation of the sciences while also pointing toward ultimate questions about being, causality, and God. Along the way, he explains key concepts like potency and act, form and matter, and the four causes, showing how the philosophy of nature not only complements modern science, but also deepens our understanding of creation, human nature, and divine wisdom.

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Natural Philosophy
01:30 Historical Context and Evolution of Natural Philosophy
02:58 Understanding Motion and Mobile Being
07:17 Methods of Studying Natural Philosophy
11:30 Goals and Methods of Natural Philosophy
17:23 Types of Motion in Natural Philosophy
21:41 The Problem of Change and Motion
29:54 Principles of Change: Potency, Act, and Privation
40:25 Nature and Causality
43:49 Understanding Nature: The Essence of Things
49:39 The Four Causes: Matter, Form, and Beyond
56:29 Final Causality: Purpose and Intent in Nature
01:05:54 Defining Motion: The Bridge Between Potency and Act
01:11:41 The First Unmoved Mover: A Philosophical Inquiry
01:16:34 Natural Philosophy: Science and Wisdom Intertwined
01:23:50 The Connection Between Natural Philosophy and Theology