Prime mover - Sheet1 Flashcards
How is the prime mover described in Aristotle’s book, metaphysics?
being eternal, substance and actuality
Why did Aristotle believe that there has to be a prime mover?
He said that nothing comes from nothing, all things have purpose
If there is a chain of events, there must be an ultimate cause. What is the prime movers place in this chain?
The prime mover is the final cause
The prime mover has to be eternal and really exist but not in bodily form, why is this?
If the prime mover was to exist in bodily form, it would be subject to change, it can only exist in a spiritual way through intelligence or thought
There is a problem with calling “God” the final cause, why?
This is because the efficient cause of movement because the act of moving itself requires a change in the mover, but God cannot change, he is the unmoved mover. The prime mover causes movement.
How does the prime mover cause movement?
He becomes the object of desire and love for the world, he causes movement not through pushing but through inspiration or attracting movement
Why is Aristotles God different to the Judeo - Christian God?
The prime mover only thinks about itself and nothing else
A criticism of the prime mover is that but what doesn’t he know?
He doesn’t even know that he is powerful
A criticism of the prime mover is that does there need to be a final cause for what?
The existence of the univerese
