Single Idea 7603

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 5. God and Time]

Full Idea

Aristotle's god had not created the world, since this would involve an inappropriate change and temporal activity; everything yearns towards god, but god remains indifferent, since he cannot contemplate anything inferior to himself.

Gist of Idea

God is not a creator (involving time and change) and is not concerned with the inferior universe

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], God) by Karen Armstrong - A History of God Ch.1

Book Reference

Armstrong,Karen: 'A History of God' [Mandarin 1993], p.49


A Reaction

Trust Aristotle to come up with the only rational and consistent account of a deity anyone has ever offered. Endless paradoxes and inconsistencies arise if god steps into time, makes things, changes, and responds to prayers.