The Prime Mover (Aristotle)
Is infinite regression a possibility for Aristotle? Why?
No. There is an ultimate/final cause being the Prime Mover, explaining why there is any change at all.
Why does Aristotle see change as imperfection?
Potential to change means that the final telos(purpose) was not achieved. Something becomes just another part of the chai of events(Four Causes)
The Prime Mover is described with a number of attributes. SEPAPIIII
Substance (something's reality) Eternal (forever) Pure Actuality (has no potential to change) Separate (logically has to exist) Indivisible(cannot be divided) Impassive(no relationship with the world) Immaterial (on-physical) AND... IMMUTABLE!!! (UNCHANGING)
For Aristotle, why does anything/everything exist?
The Four Causes
The Prime Mover is _______________________________________________________. (cause)
The ultimate or final cause of the universe.
Which question does Aristotle begin his argument with?
Why is there any possibility of change/motion and telos in the universe?
Evaluation- - strength (immutability) -weakness (relationship with the world) -strength- immutable and impact e.g. adam and eve -strength- attributes
1. STRENGTH: The fact that humans can change and the prime mover is immutable inspires humans to evolve ad make good decisions to be more good (like the prime mover). e.g. If the prime mover is God then he must be unconditionally loving. 2. WEAKNESS: The casual relationship between the world and the Prime Mover seems unclear as if the Prime Mover cannot interact with the world, this is very different from the Judeo-Christian understanding of God. e.g. what's the point of praying? ---- Prayer helps us and makes us change. 3. STRENGTH: God's character isn't immutable but things in the world can impact the prime mover. e.g. the decision of Adam and Eve disobeying God meant that God acted punished them, whereas when God created them, he didn't intend to punish them- you could argue that this could be done from his omnibenevolent nature by teaching his creatures. 4. STRENGTH: Emphasises the transcendence of God, emphasising his divine attributes, which contrast with those of humans.
Evaluation- agreeing with the theory.
1. There is always change and motion as shown by the Four Causes. eg- tree chopped-paper-notebook I don't be
What is Infinite regression?
A process that goes back and back and back FOREVER
The Prime Mover _______________ change. Give an analogy to explain this.
Attracts Moth to candle
Why does Aristotle presume LOGICALLY that there must be an efficient cause of the changes in the world? Aristotle rejects the the theory of_____________________________________.
He believes that there must be someone or something performing some kind of action to make all this change and motion happen. Infinite regression of change.
Why LOGICALLY must the Prime Mover be perfect(good)?
If God (the Prime Mover) wasn't perfect and good,it would have the potential to change, becoming bad.
For Aristotle, why must the Prime Mover be 'Pure Actuality?' The Prime Mover is the ____________________
If not the Prime Mover would have the potential to change, meaning that it would just be one of the chain of events or four causes. Ultimate Cause
Why does the Prime Mover HAVE to have the quality's Aristotle gives it?
If the Prime Mover didn't have the quality's it would become part of the cycle of events, and therefore have the potential to change.
The main quality of the Prime Mover is that it is ___________________.
Immutable(unchanging)
For Aristotle, the Prime Mover is necessary to ___________________.
explain ALL changes
