Page - 32 - in The Priority of Locomotion in Aristotle’s Physics

traced back to an ultimate source of change that is (at least partly) responsi- ble for any occurrence of each of these changes and furthermore that any subject undergoing a change as a part of the cosmos is embedded into a lar- ger framework of manifold causal relations.62 This means Aristotle spells out what principles must underlie the assumption that there are things that change in different ways, but are also capable of being at rest—something we experience every day.63 He holds the view that both change and rest are basic constituents of our world and are accepted unquestioningly by every student of nature.64 Therefore, I conclude that Phys. VIII is not primarily about proving the existence of a first unmoved mover, or even god, although it is sometimes read this way, but only shows the necessary exis- tence of this entity for the sake of presenting a causal account of change in the cosmos.65 At the beginning of Phys. VIII Aristotle emphasizes that the assumption underlying all natural philosophy is the undeniable fact that change exists.66 Starting from this assumption Aristotle in the first chapter of Physics VIII presents various arguments to show that change (κίνησις) must have always existed, and did not come to be or cease to exist at some point in time, as some of his predecessors claim. Change in fact needs to be eternal and imperishable.67 In the course of this discussion, in Phys. VIII 2, three problems concerning the claim about the eternity of change are raised, although not all of them are solved, a fact that will be of importance later on.68 After having argued for the eternal existence of change in the first two chapters of Book VIII, Aristotle discusses what this implies for the way 62 Therefore, I think that von Arnim (1931), 52, is correct in holding the view that Phys. VIII is supposed to show “die kausale Einbezogenheit der Selbstbewegung der Lebewesen in die kosmische Bewegungskausalkette”. 63 See Phys. VIII 3, 253a23–b2. There Aristotle states among other things that the assumption that there is no change is absurd and contrary to all basic experience (253a32– b2). Later on in Phys. VIII 3, 254a27–30, he also presents an argument showing that everyone, even those who reject this claim, in fact implicitly presupposes that there is change. 64 See previous footnote and Phys. VIII 3, 253b2–6 as well as 254a35–b4. 65 Thus, I do not agree with Solmsen (1961), 270, who takes it that “Aristotle’s objective in this Book is to establish the existence of the Unmoved Mover, his God, who is the cause and fountainhead of all movements in the Cosmos.” Yet, I agree with both Lang (1981), 328, and Flashar (2004), 263, who both state that Phys. VIII does not aim at showing the existence of a first unmoved mover, but only proves its existence insofar as this is able to account for the existence of change in the cosmos. 66 See n.63 and 64 of this chapter. 67 See the conclusion at the end of the first chapter: ὅτι μὲν οὖν οὐδεὶς ἦν χρόνος οὐδ᾽ ἔσται ὅτε κίνησις οὐκ ἦν ἤ οὐκ ἔσται, εἰρήσθω τοσαῦτα. Phys. VIII 1, 252b5–6. 68 See Phys. VIII 2, 252b9–28. 32 The importance of the primary kind of change ISBN Print: 9783525253069 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647253060 © 2014, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen