Unmoved mover
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As formulated by [[Thomas Aquinas]], the '''unmoved mover''' argument is stated as follows: | As formulated by [[Thomas Aquinas]], the '''unmoved mover''' argument is stated as follows: | ||
| + | : "Nothing moves without a prior mover. This leads us to a regress, from which the only escape is [[God]]. Something had to make the first move, and that something we call God." | ||
| − | + | This argument is one of the '''''Quinque viæ''''', "'''''Five Ways'''''", or "'''''Five Proofs'''''". | |
==Counter-apologetics== | ==Counter-apologetics== | ||
| − | #[[Who created God?]] | + | Many of the responses to the "[[uncaused cause]]" argument also apply to this one: |
| − | # The word "God" carries a lot of undesirable cultural baggage, denoting an intelligent being. If the ultimate cause of our universe turns out to be, say, a random | + | # If ''nothing'' moves without a prior mover, then God must need a prior mover, as well. Otherwise God is nothing, which contradicts the conclusion. Thus, either the premise is untrue, in which case the argument is [[unsound]], or the conclusion doesn't follow, in which case the argument is [[invalid]]. In fact, as stated, the argument is clearly [[self-contradictory]]. |
| − | # Pairs of virtual | + | # [[Who created God?]] |
| + | # [[Which god?]] The word "God" carries a lot of undesirable cultural baggage, denoting an intelligent being. If the ultimate cause of our universe turns out to be, say, a random [[quantum]] fluctuation, then that would be "God" by Aquinas's definition, but to call this phenomenon "God" would be very misleading. | ||
| + | # Two bodies at rest will start to move towards each other due to gravity. They can be each other's first mover. Therefore, the prior mover requirement is unnecessary. | ||
| + | # Pairs of [[virtual particle]]s are created (and annihilated) all of the time, out of literally nothing. These particles affect each other's motion, thus disproving Aquinas's premise. | ||
# More exotically, if time were circular (i.e., if time repeated every so often, so that the year 1 were also the year ten trillion and one), then every motion could have a prior cause without infinite regress. This does not seem to be the case, though. | # More exotically, if time were circular (i.e., if time repeated every so often, so that the year 1 were also the year ten trillion and one), then every motion could have a prior cause without infinite regress. This does not seem to be the case, though. | ||
| − | # Even if there is an infinite | + | # Even if there is an infinite regress of causes, so what? The human mind is uncomfortable with the concept of [[infinity]], but reality has no obligation to make us comfortable. |
| − | [[Category: Arguments]] | + | {{Arguments for god}} |
| − | [[Category: Arguments for the existence of God]] | + | |
| − | [[Category: Cosmological arguments]] | + | [[Category:Arguments]] |
| + | [[Category:Arguments for the existence of God]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Cosmological arguments]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:18, 7 January 2012
As formulated by Thomas Aquinas, the unmoved mover argument is stated as follows:
- "Nothing moves without a prior mover. This leads us to a regress, from which the only escape is God. Something had to make the first move, and that something we call God."
This argument is one of the Quinque viæ, "Five Ways", or "Five Proofs".
Counter-apologetics
Many of the responses to the "uncaused cause" argument also apply to this one:
- If nothing moves without a prior mover, then God must need a prior mover, as well. Otherwise God is nothing, which contradicts the conclusion. Thus, either the premise is untrue, in which case the argument is unsound, or the conclusion doesn't follow, in which case the argument is invalid. In fact, as stated, the argument is clearly self-contradictory.
- Who created God?
- Which god? The word "God" carries a lot of undesirable cultural baggage, denoting an intelligent being. If the ultimate cause of our universe turns out to be, say, a random quantum fluctuation, then that would be "God" by Aquinas's definition, but to call this phenomenon "God" would be very misleading.
- Two bodies at rest will start to move towards each other due to gravity. They can be each other's first mover. Therefore, the prior mover requirement is unnecessary.
- Pairs of virtual particles are created (and annihilated) all of the time, out of literally nothing. These particles affect each other's motion, thus disproving Aquinas's premise.
- More exotically, if time were circular (i.e., if time repeated every so often, so that the year 1 were also the year ten trillion and one), then every motion could have a prior cause without infinite regress. This does not seem to be the case, though.
- Even if there is an infinite regress of causes, so what? The human mind is uncomfortable with the concept of infinity, but reality has no obligation to make us comfortable.
