Aristotle is a name that is synonymous with philosophy. His works have been studied and debated for centuries, and his ideas have influenced countless thinkers throughout history.
One of the most intriguing questions surrounding Aristotle’s philosophy is whether or not he was a monotheist. Some argue that his concept of the unmoved mover suggests a belief in a single, all-powerful deity, while others point to his references to multiple gods in his writings.
In this article, we will explore the evidence and arguments for both sides of the debate, and attempt to shed some light on this fascinating question.
Join us as we delve into the world of ancient Greek philosophy and try to answer the question:
Was Aristotle a monotheist?
Was Aristotle A Monotheist
The question of whether Aristotle was a monotheist is a complex one, with arguments on both sides. On the one hand, Aristotle’s concept of the unmoved mover seems to suggest a belief in a single, all-powerful deity. This idea posits that there are a finite number of eternal circular motions in the cosmos, which must be oriented toward a system of unmoved movers. The prime unmoved mover is described as “thought thinking itself,” which some interpret as a reference to a single, divine being.
However, others argue that Aristotle’s references to multiple gods in his writings suggest that he was not a monotheist. In fact, in his will, Aristotle requested that statues be dedicated on his behalf to three gods. He also talks about gods in his works, and his inquiries about the unmoved mover belong strictly to theoretical philosophy, which is unable to study the gods.
It is important to note that Aristotle cannot be viewed as a proto-monotheist. He was a refined polytheist who held that the gods were living immortals and that one could attribute to them wisdom, goodness, and benevolent concern for human beings.
Introduction To Aristotle’s Philosophy
Aristotle was a towering figure in ancient Greek philosophy, who made important contributions to logic, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, psychology, mathematics, metaphysics, ethics, and politics. He was a student of Plato for twenty years but is famous for rejecting Plato’s theory of forms. He was more empirically minded than both Plato and Plato’s teacher, Socrates. A prolific writer, lecturer, and polymath, Aristotle radically transformed most of the topics he investigated.
As the father of western logic, Aristotle was the first to develop a formal system for reasoning. He observed that the deductive validity of any argument can be determined by its structure rather than its content. Aristotelian logic dominated until the rise of modern propositional logic and predicate logic 2000 years later. The emphasis on good reasoning serves as the backdrop for Aristotle’s other investigations.
In his natural philosophy, Aristotle combines logic with observation to make general, causal claims. For example, in his biology, Aristotle uses the concept of species to make empirical claims about the functions and behavior of individual animals. However, as revealed in his psychological works, Aristotle is no reductive materialist. Instead, he thinks of the body as the matter, and the psyche as the form of each living animal.
Though his natural scientific work is firmly based on observation, Aristotle also recognizes the possibility of knowledge that is not empirical. In his metaphysics, he claims that there must be a separate and unchanging being that is the source of all other beings. In his ethics, he holds that it is only by becoming excellent that one could achieve eudaimonia, a sort of happiness or blessedness that constitutes the best kind of human life.
Aristotle’s works exerted tremendous influence on ancient and medieval thought and continue to inspire philosophers to this day. His inquiries about the unmoved mover belong strictly to theoretical philosophy and do not necessarily suggest a belief in a single, all-powerful deity. Rather, Aristotle’s philosophy is complex and multifaceted, with arguments on both sides regarding his belief in monotheism.
The Concept Of The Unmoved Mover
The concept of the unmoved mover is a central idea in Aristotle’s philosophy and cosmology. The unmoved mover is described as a primary cause or first uncaused cause of all motion in the universe. This concept has its roots in the cosmological speculations of the earliest Greek pre-Socratic philosophers and became highly influential and widely drawn upon in medieval philosophy and theology.
According to Aristotle, all heavenly movement is ultimately due to the activity of forty-seven (or fifty-five) unmoved movers. These movers are incorporeal beings that move other things, but are not themselves moved by any prior action. The seemingly irregular movements of the planets are viewed as resulting from the combination of regular circular revolutions. The earth, however, does not move and occupies the center of the universe.
The unmoved mover is also described as being perfectly beautiful, indivisible, and contemplating only perfect contemplation: self-contemplation. This Aristotelian concept had a significant historical influence on medieval philosophy and theology. St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, elaborated on the unmoved mover in his Quinque viae.
While some interpret the concept of the unmoved mover as a reference to a single, divine being, it is important to note that Aristotle’s references to multiple gods in his writings suggest that he was not a monotheist. Additionally, his inquiries about the unmoved mover belong strictly to theoretical philosophy, which is unable to study the gods.
The Influence Of Aristotle’s Philosophy
Aristotle’s philosophy had a profound impact on ancient and medieval thought, and continues to influence philosophers to this day. As the father of western logic, Aristotle introduced a formal system for reasoning that dominated until the rise of modern propositional and predicate logic. His emphasis on good reasoning serves as the backdrop for his other investigations, which combined logic with observation to make general, causal claims.
In his natural philosophy, Aristotle used the concept of species to make empirical claims about the functions and behavior of individual animals. He also recognized the possibility of knowledge that is not empirical, as evidenced in his metaphysics where he claimed that there must be a separate and unchanging being that is the source of all other beings. This idea influenced later thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas, who incorporated it into his own philosophical system.
Aristotle’s ethical theories were also highly influential. He believed that it was only by becoming excellent that one could achieve eudaimonia, a sort of happiness or blessedness that constitutes the best kind of human life. This idea influenced later thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, who saw Aristotle’s ethics as a precursor to his own ideas about self-mastery and personal excellence.
Overall, Aristotle’s contributions to philosophy were vast and far-reaching. His ideas continue to shape our understanding of logic, metaphysics, ethics, and natural philosophy, and his influence can be seen in the work of countless philosophers throughout history.
