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5 ideas
20820 | Time is an interval of motion, or the measure of speed [Posidonius, by Stobaeus] |
Full Idea: Posidonius defined time thus: it is an interval of motion, or the measure of speed and slowness. | |
From: report of Posidonius (fragments/reports [c.95 BCE]) by John Stobaeus - Anthology 1.08.42 | |
A reaction: Hm. Can we define motion or speed without alluding to time? Looks like we have to define them as a conjoined pair, which means we cannot fully understand either of them. |
617 | It is hard to see how either time or movement could come into existence or be destroyed [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: It is impossible that movement should either come-to-be or be destroyed. The same can be said for time itself, since it is not even possible for there to be an earlier and a later if time does not exist. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1071b06) |
619 | Something which both moves and is moved is intermediate, so it follows that there must be an unmoved mover [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: Since that which is moved and which also moves is an intermediate, it follows that there must be something that moves without being moved. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1072a19) |
620 | The first mover is necessary, and because it is necessary it is good [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: The existence of the first mover is necessary, and in that it is necessary it is good. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1072b10) | |
A reaction: This is the direct antithesis of David Hume's is/ought distinction (that the universe is value-free). |
613 | Even if the world is caused by fate, mind and nature are still prior causes [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: Even if luck or the automatic are the cause of the world, mind and nature are prior causes still. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1065b03) |