Compare and contrast the Stoic and Aristotelian conceptions of God as the cause of nature.
There are several conceptions devised by various people on God as the cause of nature. The world exists with several compositions including human beings, other living and non-living organisms. Various groups of people have adopted both stoic and Aristotelian conceptions. Stoics believe that nothing passes without explanation. Stoics tend to give an explanation for the existence of everything in life and nature. Stoics believe that an active force exists and that the force is everywhere with matter. The implication is that anything that occupies space and has a weight has got some special type of force. There is a belief in stoic philosophy that a spirit exists within each person, and the spirit is responsible for everyone’s actions.
The stoic philosophy argues that God reason and fire that was distributed in the whole cosmos. The argument of Gods diffusion throughout the universe implied that God existed in the entire universe and most likely God was responsible for the existence of nature. The existence of nature depicted the material presence of God in the universe. Every being in the universe, therefore, is a manifestation of God according to the stoics. The element of nature and Gods existence gives produces evidence that God is responsible for the existence nature. According to the stoics, God was described as Providence due to cosmic reason. God was a provider of all the aspects of nature hence responsible for the existence of nature.
Aristotelian conception of God is relatively complex. It is derived from the theory of metaphysics. Aristotle, who is the mastermind of Aristotelian theology, argues that if it were not for some external substance that is imperishable, then all substances in the universe would not evade being perishable. Aristotle, therefore, argues that there must be some creature or rather substance that is external and imperishable in every human being. Time and the world are not perishable. This forms the base for reasoning because the fact that the world and time are not perishable is contributed by the existence of a prime mover. The prime mover dictates all processes and changes. The prime mover is not subject to change and processes it hence only affects how other activities vary. Considering the capability of the prime mover, there is a belief in the Aristotelian philosophy that God is the prime mover because God is responsible for the existence of all creatures in the earth. Aristotelian conceptions describe the existence of a single prime mover hence it leaves God as the only option for impacting the existence of every other creature in the universe.
Similarities between the stoic and the Aristotelian conceptions of God as the cause of nature
The Aristotelian and the stoic conceptions of God’s existence have got a number of similarities. These similarities emerge due to the formula in which the two ideologies use to express their contents. Both the stoic and Aristotelian conceptions use nature as the evidence of the existence of God in the universe. In the stoic conception, God spread throughout the universe in the form of fire and reason. The universal spread of God implies that God exists in every aspect of nature hence he is the reason for every happening. In the Aristotelian conception, the fact that some internal force moves substances depicts God's influence in nature. God moves nature hence branded the name prime mover. The Aristotelian, therefore, depicts God as with authoritative power over the universe and the entire creature. In the impact of nature, both the Aristotelian and the stoic conceptions of God as the cause of nature are similar
Both the stoic and Aristotelian conceptions relay the fact that God is supreme over other creatures hence the reason for his command over them. The stoic conceptions depict God as supreme and the only being with the ability and mandate to offer virtues for the inhabitants of the universe. God is, therefore, treated with the utmost respect according to the stoic belief because God is powerful and spread all over the cosmos. Similarly, the Aristotelian conception on God as the cause of the universe leaves God a universal being. Aristotle argues that without the existence of internal force, there would not be movement of matter. Matter only movers because there is some internal force that impacted by a supreme being. The prime mover is proved to be single. God is, therefore, undisputedly the prime mover. God is the only supreme being hence the cause of nature.
Differences between the stoic and the Aristotelian conceptions of God as the cause of nature
Certain differences also emerge on both the stoic and the Aristotelian conceptions on God. Because the two ideologies emanated at different time in the history of the world, there has to be a variation in argument and applications as well. Despite the fact that the derivation of both concepts is relatively, some difference emerges when it comes to the formula of argumentation. The stoic argumentation concentrates in living creatures as opposed to the Aristotelian argumentation. The stoic conception stresses on the belief of the existence of a soul in rational beings. The soul is commanded by inner feelings that are affected by God. The soul of each human being is, therefore, described as a manifestation of God as the cause of nature. God models the development of every soul in all the stages of development. The outcome of the soul is, therefore, a manifestation of the existence of God.
In the Aristotelian conceptions of God, there is the inclusion of all sorts of matter, both living and non-living. The theory of metaphysics is a key towards the argument of Aristotle on God as the cause of nature. Aristotle is increasingly interested in the cause for existence of matter and what affects its status either in the present or the future. Aristotle describes matter as that that would have been perishable if some force never existed to prevent them from being perishable. The movement of matter is not accidental. Everything moves due to some impact. Even the world that is said to be always moving must be moved by some force. The prime question is the cause for such movements because the cause for the movements must be identified. Because the Aristotelian concept describes God as the prime mover, God is the cause of nature.
Explain which, if either, analysis you find more compelling and why.
The Aristotelian analysis is more compelling as compared to the Stoic analysis. There is a variety of reason that makes the Aristotelian analysis more superior. Most the factors emanate from the method of reasoning and the aspects of nature that are used to relate God and nature. The Aristotelian analysis uses the existence of three kinds of substance two of which are physical and one unmovable. Movement has always existed and matter expected to be affected by movement. Movement is described as continuous except for movement in place. Something is always responsible for the movement. However, if something that impacts movement never existed, then there would have never been a movement. There cannot be an assumption that some external force is responsible for the movement. The Aristotelian analysis, therefore, clearly depicts the relationship between movement and some internal force as opposed to the external forces as some people may allege. The Aristotelian analysis, therefore, proves more compelling as opposed to the Stoic analysis.
The concept of actuality is also a very essential aspect that makes the Aristotelian compelling. People tend to reason that all that acts can act, however not everything that can act acts. It is however impossible for all things to be able to exist but do not exist yet. The Aristotelian outplays the theologians who describe the existence of all things together at one time. Movement does not exist without an actual cause of the same. For instance, the cloth cannot stitch itself, a tailor must get involved. Likewise, the existence of nature must have been caused by some actual action. God is, therefore, accredited with the cause of nature due to God’s supreme powers to make movements on different forms of matter. The Aristotelian is, therefore, extremely compelling and convinces readers more than the Stoic analysis. Comprehensive relation between the natural aspects of life and the cause of their existence is the key point in the Aristotelian analysis.
