GCSE Philosophy and Ethics Practice Exam

What did Plato and Aristotle call the first cause of all other moving things?

1. Prime Mover

2. Original Designer

3. First Spark

4. God

The correct answer is: Prime Mover

Plato and Aristotle referred to the first cause of all other moving things as the Prime Mover. This concept is foundational in their philosophical framework, where they sought to answer the question of why anything exists at all. The Prime Mover is characterized as an uncaused cause responsible for the motion and existence of everything else in the universe. Aristotle specifically developed this idea, arguing that since everything that moves must have been set in motion by something else, there must be an ultimate source or a first mover that itself is unmoved. For him, this Prime Mover is perfect and necessary, existing outside of the physical realm and serving as a final cause of movement and change in the world. In contrast, other options do not align with the philosophical terminology used by Plato and Aristotle. The term "Original Designer" may imply a creator-type figure but lacks the metaphysical grounding found in the Prime Mover concept. "First Spark" could suggest a moment of creation or ignition, but it does not capture the ongoing, unchanging nature of the Prime Mover. Lastly, while "God" can be associated with the Prime Mover in some interpretations, it is a broader and more ambiguous term that does not specifically reflect the philosophical rigor of