“Aristoteliaans” verwys na idees of benaderings wat afkomstig is van of beinvloed is deur die denke van die Griekse filosoof Aristoteles (384–322 v.C.). In teologie en metafisika dui dit spesifiek op ‘n benadering wat klem le op substansie, vorm-en-materie, potensiaal en akt, en oorsaaklikheid. Aristoteles het byvoorbeeld onderskei tussen potensialiteit (wat iets kan wees) en aktualiteit (wat dit tans is), en hierdie onderskeid het groot invloed gehad op hoe teoloe God as Aktus Purus (suiwer akt) verstaan. In klassieke teisme is baie idees oor God se onveranderlikheid, ewigheid en eenvoud gebou op Aristoteliaanse metafisika, wat orde, doelgerigtheid en oorsaaklikheid in die skepping beklemtoon.
“Aristotelian” refers to ideas or approaches that originate from or are influenced by the thought of the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC). In theology and metaphysics it specifically denotes an approach that emphasises substance, form-and-matter, potentiality and act, and causality. Aristotle distinguished, for example, between potentiality (what something can be) and actuality (what it currently is), and this distinction has greatly influenced how theologians understand God as Actus Purus (pure act). In classical theism many ideas about God’s immutability, eternity, and simplicity are built on Aristotelian metaphysics, which emphasises order, purposiveness, and causality in creation.