Stage one of Feser’s Aristotelian proof reasons from the reality of change to the existence of a purely actual actualizer. In this video, I critically evaluate the argument. NOTE (ADDED 3/21/26): This video represented my views at the time of recording. Some of my views have changed since then, but I'm leaving the video up because it contains lots of helpful information, and also shows my thinking at the time. Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): https://www.patreon.com/majestyofreason If you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josephcschmid This video is based on: Schmid, J.C. Forthcoming. “Stage One of the Aristotelian Proof: A Critical Appraisal”, Sophia. Link: https://philpapers.org/archive/SCHSOO-8.pdf [The abstract should say 'this question' lol] Also: Here's a supplemental document to the video in which I level yet another criticism toward the Aristotelian proof -- namely, that it seems to actually *entail* existential inertia. Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A79xwpthzBlg83-W2eIBrlMvpFGIqlLo/view?usp=sharing Outline Intro and Outline 0:00 Aristotelian Proof 1:38 Dialectical Context 15:35 Premise Seven 20:36 Per Se Chains 40:50 CP and Existence as Stasis 1:02:23 A Tension 1:04:32 Purely Actual 1:07:48 Changeable Necessary Beings 1:21:46 Responses 1:23:56 Concluding Remarks 1:36:40 Existential inertia links, for those interested: (1) IJPR paper: https://philpapers.org/archive/SCHEIA-20.pdf (2) Response to Hsiao and Sanders: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/response-to-hsiao-and-sanders-on-existential-inertia-and-the-thomistic-contingency-argument/ (3) A User’s Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr44d_1_sGk (4) Response to Intellectual Conservatism, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dG1HbbFRfI (5) Response to Intellectual Conservatism, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3pn4QCPFtI (6) Response to Nemes: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/fact-checking-nemes-on-existential-inertia/ (7) Response to RM and HoH: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/response-to-rm-and-hoh/ (8) Response to Thomistic Disputations: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2021/01/23/fact-checking-td-on-existential-inertia/ (9) Discussion with Oppy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybUW693C8UY (10) Covered in sections of this post: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/an-unsuccessful-defense-of-classical-theism-a-systematic-response-to-sonna-kerr-and-tomaszewski/ And the usual links: My book: https://www.amazon.com/Majesty-Reason-Critical-Thinking-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B086G7KS52 My website: https://majestyofreason.wordpress.com/