THE EFFICIENT CAUSE OF MOTION AND ITS REQUISITES: CAN IT BE ETERNAL?

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THE EFFICIENT CAUSE OF MOTION AND ITS REQUISITES: CAN IT BE ETERNAL?
Since it is an already established fact that whatever is moved must be moved by another, it is our view in this paper to present that there is a first unmoved mover who causes motion and is in itself unmoved who is called God.
According to Aristotle, in a series of moved movers, the last thing that is moved and the moved movers are being moved together like coaches in a train. They are moved simultaneously, at the same time and are continuous which makes them seem to be infinite. This is because generically in nature, it is possible for most things to be joined together in one enormous continuous body.
 However, Aristotle asserts that since everything that is moved is moved between two termini, the motion of the infinite mobile objects is finite. There is a finite motion in the whole series of motion. Secondly, in his postulation of series of motion, he posits that there cannot be an eternal series of motion because basically there will be a first mover and a first moved in the series. Though there are different causes of motion in the series, there is an ultimate cause of motion which though causes motion but is itself uncaused and unmoved. If there is something which is moved by another, it is necessary to come to a first that is not moved by another to be able to experience motion. Thus, we must come to a first unmoved mover and if this first does not act, the last does not act and there will be no mover or moved. Therefore, the first moving cause in the whole universe must not be moveable even per accidens.
In view of the fact that there is no infinite series of moved movers and there is immobility of the first mover from the perpetuity of motion, Aristotle views the Eternal as the “Prime Mover” and “Uncaused Cause” and this Prime Mover, Aquinas calls God. For Aristotle, therefore, there is a single continuous perpetual motion which accounts for and is prior to all earthly generation and corruption and that is the Unmoved mover.
Finally, the Unmoved Mover who is the efficient cause is the first mover in the series of movers. He is not in motion but imparts motion, and as such, he is the ultimate Cause of motion. And if he does not act, there will be no motion as he is the initiator of motion. He is eternal. He is known as God.
REFERENCES:
1.      R. P. Hardie & R. K. Gaye, Aristotle’s physics.
2.      Joseph Kenny, Philosophy of Nature.





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