Primum movens
Primum movens (Latin), usually referred to as the Prime mover or first cause in English, is a term used in the philosophy of Aristotle, in the theological cosmological argument for the existence of God, and in cosmogony, the source of the cosmos or "all-being".
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[edit] Aristotle's ontology
In book 12 of his Metaphysics, Aristotle used the phrase τι ὃ οὐ κινούμενον κινεῖ ("something which moves [other things] without [itself] being moved [by anything]")[1] -- i.e., the unmoved mover. When applied in his physics, this led to the view that all natural motions are uncaused and therefore self-explanatory.[2] Causality is linear, so causality or motion must be finally attributed to a first cause, which logically cannot itself be moved, i.e. the unmoved mover. To Aristotle the first cause is energy or energeia (in Greek) or actus (in Latin): energy causes motion. This is the foundation for the theory of actualism, a non-idealist philosophy of nature, science, logic, and mathematics.[3] Aristotle's actualistic ontology is a denial of "potential ontology" - that Being is the first cause of the cosmos.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Aristotle. Metaphysics. 1072a ff.. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0051:book=12:section=1072a.
- ^ Zev Bechler, Aristotle's Theory of Actuality, State University of New York Press (August 1995) Language: English ISBN 0791422402 ISBN 978-0791422403 [1]
- ^ Zev Bechler, Aristotle's Theory of Actuality, State University of New York Press (August 1995) Language: English ISBN 0791422402 ISBN 978-0791422403 [2]
[edit] Bibliography
- Louis Pasteur, cf. f. i. René Dubos, "Louis Pasteur - Free Lance of Science", 1986, s. pg. 113
- Andreä, Die chymische Hochzeit. Christiani Rosenkreutz", 1616
