Single Idea 22735

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof]

Full Idea

They say that the substance of existing things being of itself motionless and shapeless must be put in motion and shape by some cause.

Gist of Idea

The original substance lacked motion or shape, and was given these by a cause

Source

Sextus Empiricus (Against the Physicists (two books) [c.180], I.075)

Book Reference

Sextus Empiricus: 'Against the Physicists/Against the Ethicists', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Harvard Loeb 1997], p.43


A Reaction

Interestingly, Sextus doesn't seem to think that the existence of the original substance also needs a cause. This substance sounds like a relative of Aristotle's Prime Matter. The source of motion isn't really a 'design' argument.