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The first and third ways

(If my memory serves me right), the Summa shifts from talking about what IS an unmoved mover (in the First Way) to what CANNOT be moved by another when Aquinas is using the First Way to make inferences about the divine attributes.

Perhaps Aquinas's move makes better sense if we see the first way and the (first part of the) third way as two legs to the same stool.  That is, if what is presently unmoved were given enough time... it would eventually be moved by another UNLESS it could NOT be moved by another.  But giving "enough time" is what happens in the first part of the Third Way...

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