Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2005 / iii / Paper 85 / 6 / b

This part proves $(a)\Rightarrow (b)$. If $M\ne 0$ were a finite-dimensional unital module, its action would give a homomorphismThe kernel is a two-sided ideal and is proper because the identity acts as the identity on $M$. A simple ring therefore makes the homomorphism injective. This is impossible: $A_n(k)$ has the infinitely many linearly independent ordered monomials established in part (a), whereas the endomorphism algebra has dimension $({\dim }_{k}M{)}^2$. Thus simplicity excludes every nonzero finite-dimensional module.

There is also a direct characteristic-zero check: the relation $[D_1,x_1]=1$ acts as a matrix identity. Taking its trace gives $0={\dim }_{k}M$ in $k$. In characteristic zero this forces $M=0$. This agrees with the Weyl algebra has no nonzero finite-dimensional modules criterion, but the injectivity argument proves the requested implication without presupposing characteristic zero.