Definition of the word prime mover

The term "prime mover" originated from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle's doctrine of causation, known as the four causes. According to Aristotle's thinking, every natural event had four causes: the material cause (the substance from which the thing is made), the formal cause (the design or pattern of the thing), the efficient cause (the force that brings about the change), and the final cause (the purpose or end result). In mechanistic philosophy, which emerged during the medieval and Renaissance periods, the efficient cause of a mechanical system became known as the "prime mover." The term refers to the initial source of motion in a system, which sets other parts in motion and causes a chain reaction of events. This concept was elaborated by medieval scholars such as John Philoponus and Avicenna, and later expanded upon by medieval Christian philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas, who linked the prime mover concept to their religious beliefs. In modern times, the meaning of the term "prime mover" has broadened to refer to the agency that initiates action or initiates a series of events, regardless of whether it is a physical object or an abstract concept. For example, in economics, a prime mover might be a new technology or a change in the market, which sets off a chain reaction of reactions by other actors. In summary, the term "prime mover" can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle's theory of causation, which emphasized the initial source of motion as a critical concept in understanding the functioning of the natural world.