Unmoved mover
The prime mover argument, also known as the [unmoved mover argument], is a philosophical concept, particularly associated with Aristotle, that posits the existence of a first cause of all motion in the universe. This “prime mover” is not itself moved by any prior cause, but is the ultimate source of all movement and change. It’s often presented as a cosmological argument for the existence of God.
Core Idea: The argument rests on the premise that everything in motion must be moved by something else. If you trace back the chain of causes and effects, it leads to a point where there must be a first mover that is not itself moved by anything else.
Aristotle’s View:
- Final Cause: Aristotle’s prime mover is not just a first cause in time, but also the final cause or ultimate purpose of all motion.
- Immaterial and Eternal: It’s described as immaterial, unchanging, and eternal.
- Attraction, not Impulsion: The prime mover is not seen as actively pushing things into motion, but rather as an object of desire that attracts other things towards it, causing them to move or change.
- Thinking of Thinking: The prime mover’s activity is described as pure contemplation, specifically thinking about the best and most perfect thing, which is itself.
Relationship to God:
- The prime mover is often identified with God in classical theistic arguments.
- Thomas Aquinas, for example, used the prime mover argument to support his case for the existence of God.
Counterarguments:
- A common criticism is that if everything needs a cause, then what caused the prime mover?
- Some argue that the universe itself could be uncaused, negating the need for a prime mover.
- Alternatives to the prime mover concept include the idea of an infinite regression of causes or a universe that simply exists without a single, ultimate cause.