Final answer:
Aristotle connects the acorn and the oak through the concept of potentiality and actuality, with the acorn having the inherent potential to become an oak. This process is explained by hylomorphism, where the form needed for the acorn to become an oak is already present within it. The true essence or substance of an oak is consistent through this change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle's connection between the acorn and the oak is fundamentally about potentiality and actuality. The acorn contains the potential to become an oak tree, representing the essence and the end goal for its existence, which is known as its telos. As the acorn grows into an oak, it moves from potentiality to actuality, actualizing the form that was inherent within it from the beginning. This process is called hylomorphism, which suggests that form is present in the material world and is responsible for the growth of the acorn into an oak. Thus, option c) The oak is the potentiality of the acorn would be the most aligned with Aristotle's philosophy.
Aristotle's view of the acorn becoming an oak is a teleological one, where the acorn has a specific function or ergon, which is ultimately to become an oak tree. This idea is also connected to Aristotle's concept of substances, where the essence of what makes an oak an oak is present in every individual manifestation of an oak tree. Aristotle's theory addresses the identity conundrum posed by the transformation from acorn to oak by asserting that while the appearances may change, the substance - the essential nature - does not.