A brief analysis of Aristotle's argument for the existence of the Unmoved Mover.
According to Aristotle, everything in motion is moved by something else, as any possible self moving object must contain parts in order to be in motion and this object must move as a whole not just in parts. It also must originate its own motion but this seems impossible; as if any part of this object is motionless, the whole is at rest and therefore the whole body’s motion depends upon the motion of a part of it which results in the self moving object not being able to originate its own motion (8. b) Motion in an eternal world is necessary and therefore Aristotle maintains that a primary unmoved eternal substance is needed because if everything in motion needed something else to be in motion this would result in infinite movers in finite time which is impossible to Aristotle. Thus the original mover is the primary source for all movement and cannot move.
As this Unmoved Mover is the primary cause for motion in the universe, it cannot be subject to change or even possess the potential for it as this would inevitably lead to a form of deterioration which is change. There is nowhere else to go for a perfect being but to continue in perfection. To do anything else is to change and, as the unmoved mover, it cannot change. (9.c) It cannot be anything but eternal as it causes everlasting motion and it must lack matter as that which is eternal cannot have come or gone into existence.
The Unmoved Mover exists in a perpetual state of what humans recognise as sublime bliss. (7. e) This ability to forever possess what humans only fleetingly touch upon is the wonder of the divine. (7 e ii) As the most sublime state for a human is in intellectual thought, it follows that the primary being must be in an eternal state of thought, but as a fixed being without the possibility for change or potential the thought must be a constant one.
God has life, for thought is life and God is the activation of thought (7e iii) However, there are problems with this analysis, as to think upon something is to possess the potential to think. Also, to think upon something is to attain the value of the thing thought of and for God to think on anything but itself is to debase God as all other things are inferior to it. Therefore the Unmoved Mover must exist by thinking upon itself thinking, as this is the only way to eternal thought without regress to inferior or changeable thoughts. (9)
So, a primary Unmoved Mover is necessary. This thing cannot be material as to be material and change things is to change oneself and the Unmoved Mover cannot change itself. It exists in an eternal bliss of contemplation on itself contemplating. It exists as an object of love as this leaves the object of love unchanged. The Heavens imitate the Unmoved Mover by revolving round Earth in the perfect shape of a circle to imitate the perfection and eternal happiness of the Unmoved Mover. The Heavens do this out of love for the Unmoved Mover and this shows that the Heavens and their bodies contain souls capable of love.
Weaknesses?
But is motion always caused (quantum physics, the movement of gaseous particles) and if the world is eternal how come we have a first cause? If world has no beginning why is the infinite regress of causes of motion impossible in a perpetually changing everlasting universe?
If this God can only think about itself thinking would this not lead to a rather robust regress i.e. thinking about thinking leads to thinking about thinking which leads to thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking…… ad infinitum. This type of regress is exactly what leads Aristotle to believe there has to be an Unmoved Mover in the first place. (see argument on causes of motions above)
Further thoughts stemming from today’s witterings .
Aristotle’s Mover-Differences with Plato
- Living beings are self-moving.
- Forms are based in reality not reality based on forms.