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Aristotle's unmoved mover theory
Module 1
Aristotle's Metaphysical Toolkit
1
Aristotle's Four Causes
Distinguish between Aristotle's four causes (material, formal, efficient, and final).
Distinguish between Aristotle's four causes (material, formal, efficient, and final).
2
Aristotle's Metaphysics: Substance, Form, and Matter
Explain the concepts of substance (ousia), form, and matter in Aristotle's metaphysics.
Explain the concepts of substance (ousia), form, and matter in Aristotle's metaphysics.
3
Potentiality and Actuality: A Distinction
Analyze the distinction between potentiality (dynamis) and actuality (energeia).
Analyze the distinction between potentiality (dynamis) and actuality (energeia).
4
Potentiality and Actuality: Understanding Change
Apply the potentiality-actuality distinction to explain the nature of change (kinesis).
Apply the potentiality-actuality distinction to explain the nature of change (kinesis).
5
Hylomorphism: Matter and Form in Sensible Substances
Explain Aristotle's doctrine of hylomorphism (matter-form composition) as the structure of sensible substances.
Explain Aristotle's doctrine of hylomorphism (matter-form composition) as the structure of sensible substances.
Module 2
The Physics of Change and Causation
6
Motion as Actualized Potentiality
Define motion (kinesis) as the actualization of a potentiality as such.
Define motion (kinesis) as the actualization of a potentiality as such.
7
Aristotle's Types of Change
Distinguish between the different types of change in Aristotle's physics: generation/corruption, alteration, and locomotion.
Distinguish between the different types of change in Aristotle's physics: generation/corruption, alteration, and locomotion.
8
The Principle of Motion: "Whatever is Moved is Moved by Another"
Analyze the principle that 'whatever is moved is moved by another' (omne quod movetur ab alio movetur).
Analyze the principle that 'whatever is moved is moved by another' (omne quod movetur ab alio movetur).
9
Per Se vs. Per Accidens Causal Series
Explain the distinction between per se (essential, hierarchical) and per accidens (incidental) causal series.
Explain the distinction between per se (essential, hierarchical) and per accidens (incidental) causal series.
10
Aristotle's Argument Against Infinite Concurrent Movers
Reconstruct Aristotle's argument for why a per se series of concurrent movers cannot be infinite.
Reconstruct Aristotle's argument for why a per se series of concurrent movers cannot be infinite.
11
Aristotle's Argument Against Infinite Regress
Identify the logical structure of Aristotle's argument against an infinite regress of movers.
Identify the logical structure of Aristotle's argument against an infinite regress of movers.
Module 3
The Argument for a First Mover
12
Aristotle's Unmoved Mover and Celestial Motion
Reconstruct the argument from Physics VII-VIII for the necessity of a first unmoved mover to explain celestial motion.
Reconstruct the argument from Physics VII-VIII for the necessity of a first unmoved mover to explain celestial motion.
13
Reconstructing Aristotle's Unmoved Mover Argument
Reconstruct the more general metaphysical argument from Metaphysics XII (Lambda) for an unmoved mover.
Reconstruct the more general metaphysical argument from Metaphysics XII (Lambda) for an unmoved mover.
14
The Eternal and Unchanging First Mover
Explain why the first mover must be eternal and unchanging.
Explain why the first mover must be eternal and unchanging.
15
Actus Purus: The Pure Act of the First Mover
Analyze why the first mover must be purely actual (actus purus) with no potentiality.
Analyze why the first mover must be purely actual (actus purus) with no potentiality.
16
The Unmoved Mover: Final Cause of Motion
Explain how the unmoved mover causes motion as a final cause (an object of desire and intellect) rather than an efficient cause.
Explain how the unmoved mover causes motion as a final cause (an object of desire and intellect) rather than an efficient cause.
17
Comparing Physical and Metaphysical Arguments
Evaluate the key premises in both the Physics and Metaphysics versions of the argument.
Evaluate the key premises in both the Physics and Metaphysics versions of the argument.
Module 4
The Nature of the Unmoved Mover
18
The Immateriality of the Unmoved Mover
Explain why the unmoved mover must be an immaterial, non-spatial substance.
Explain why the unmoved mover must be an immaterial, non-spatial substance.
19
Aristotle's Unmoved Mover: Pure Thought Thinking Itself
Analyze Aristotle's conclusion that the unmoved mover's activity is pure thought thinking itself (noesis noeseos).
Analyze Aristotle's conclusion that the unmoved mover's activity is pure thought thinking itself (noesis noeseos).
20
The Unmoved Movers and Celestial Spheres
Explain the relationship between the primary unmoved mover and the subordinate unmoved movers of the celestial spheres.
Explain the relationship between the primary unmoved mover and the subordinate unmoved movers of the celestial spheres.
21
Aristotle's Unmoved Mover: Personal or Impersonal?
Evaluate whether Aristotle's unmoved mover is a personal deity or an impersonal principle.
Evaluate whether Aristotle's unmoved mover is a personal deity or an impersonal principle.
22
Aristotle's God: Contemplation vs. Cosmic Causality
Analyze the tension between the unmoved mover's perfect self-contemplation and its role as the ultimate final cause for the cosmos.
Analyze the tension between the unmoved mover's perfect self-contemplation and its role as the ultimate final cause for the cosmos.
Module 5
Thomistic Development of the Argument
23
Aquinas's First Way: Motion and Aristotelian Roots
Reconstruct Aquinas's First Way (the argument from motion) and identify its specific Aristotelian premises.
Reconstruct Aquinas's First Way (the argument from motion) and identify its specific Aristotelian premises.
24
Aquinas's Second Way vs. Argument from Motion
Compare Aquinas's Second Way (the argument from efficient causation) with the argument from motion.
Compare Aquinas's Second Way (the argument from efficient causation) with the argument from motion.
25
Aquinas: Aristotle's Actuality and God as Subsistent Being
Analyze how Aquinas integrates Aristotle's 'pure actuality' with the concept of God as 'ipsum esse subsistens' (subsistent being itself).
Analyze how Aquinas integrates Aristotle's 'pure actuality' with the concept of God as 'ipsum esse subsistens' (subsistent being itself).
26
Aquinas on Divine Simplicity and Pure Actuality
Explain Aquinas's doctrine of divine simplicity and its direct connection to the mover being purely actual.
Explain Aquinas's doctrine of divine simplicity and its direct connection to the mover being purely actual.
27
Aquinas vs. Aristotle: God as Efficient and Final Cause
Contrast Aquinas's view of God as both an efficient and final cause with Aristotle's more restricted view of the mover as only a final cause.
Contrast Aquinas's view of God as both an efficient and final cause with Aristotle's more restricted view of the mover as only a final cause.
Module 6
Classical and Modern Critiques
28
Leibniz vs. Aristotle: Sufficient Reason and Infinite Regress
Compare Leibniz's Principle of Sufficient Reason with Aristotle's argument against infinite regress.
Compare Leibniz's Principle of Sufficient Reason with Aristotle's argument against infinite regress.
29
Hume's Critique of Causality
Analyze David Hume's critique of the empirical basis for the causal principle.
Analyze David Hume's critique of the empirical basis for the causal principle.
30
Kant's Critique of Causality Beyond Experience
Explain Immanuel Kant's critique regarding the application of the category of causality beyond the realm of possible experience.
Explain Immanuel Kant's critique regarding the application of the category of causality beyond the realm of possible experience.
31
Russell's Brute Fact Objection
Analyze Bertrand Russell's objection that the universe can be considered a 'brute fact' without an external explanation.
Analyze Bertrand Russell's objection that the universe can be considered a 'brute fact' without an external explanation.
32
Necessary Being vs. Brute Fact Universe
Evaluate the dilemma of accepting a necessary being versus accepting the universe as a brute fact.
Evaluate the dilemma of accepting a necessary being versus accepting the universe as a brute fact.
33
Aristotle vs. Kalam: Infinite Regress
Contrast Aristotle's argument against an infinite hierarchical series with the temporal Kalam cosmological argument.
Contrast Aristotle's argument against an infinite hierarchical series with the temporal Kalam cosmological argument.
Module 7
Contemporary Formulations and Scientific Challenges
34
The Logical Structure of a Contemporary Aristotelian Proof for a First Cause
Outline the logical structure of a contemporary Aristotelian proof for a first cause (e.g., Edward Feser's).
Outline the logical structure of a contemporary Aristotelian proof for a first cause (e.g., Edward Feser's).
35
Defending Aristotle: Metaphysics in Modernity
Analyze contemporary defenses of Aristotelian metaphysical concepts (e.g., actuality/potentiality, causality) against modern objections.
Analyze contemporary defenses of Aristotelian metaphysical concepts (e.g., actuality/potentiality, causality) against modern objections.
36
Causality: Aristotle vs. Modern Physics
Distinguish between Aristotelian hierarchical/sustaining causality and the event-causality model used in modern physics.
Distinguish between Aristotelian hierarchical/sustaining causality and the event-causality model used in modern physics.
37
Inertia and the Sustaining Cause of Motion
Assess whether the principle of inertia in classical mechanics eliminates the need for a concurrent sustaining cause of motion.
Assess whether the principle of inertia in classical mechanics eliminates the need for a concurrent sustaining cause of motion.
38
Quantum Challenges to Classical Causality
Evaluate challenges to classical causal principles from quantum mechanics, such as quantum indeterminacy and virtual particles.
Evaluate challenges to classical causal principles from quantum mechanics, such as quantum indeterminacy and virtual particles.
39
Pure Actuality: A Modal Metaphysical Analysis
Analyze the coherence of the concept of 'pure actuality' (actus purus) using tools from contemporary metaphysics, such as modal logic.
Analyze the coherence of the concept of 'pure actuality' (actus purus) using tools from contemporary metaphysics, such as modal logic.
40
The Unmoved Mover: Argument and Objections
Synthesize the strongest contemporary formulation of the unmoved mover argument and the most formidable objections it faces from philosophy and science.
Synthesize the strongest contemporary formulation of the unmoved mover argument and the most formidable objections it faces from philosophy and science.