Analysis Of The Five Ways By Thomas Aquinas - 1298 Words

Thomas Aquinas wrote, â€Å"The Five Ways† from Summa Theologica and is said to be the greatest theologian. In this reading, Aquinas gives his five arguments in regard to Gods existence and shows how philosophy and religion intertwine with one another. The Argument from change, causation, contingency, degrees of excellence, and harmony are all are Aquinas reasonings towards the proof of Gods existence. Aquinas first argument for God’s existence comes from the argument of change or motion. In this argument, Aquinas observed that we live in a world in which things are always moving and the movement must be caused by movers. He states, â€Å"†¦ therefore the thing which causes it to move be in motion, this too must be moved by something else, and so†¦show more content†¦Aquinas third argument he makes is much like the first and second argument pointing out the problem of infinite regress but instead, this argument is built on the contingent and the necessary. A contingent being is any being that could not have existed and a necessary being is a being that had to always exist. Aquinas states, â€Å"†¦ there are certain things in the Universe which are capable of existing and of not existing †¦ but it is impossible for all things which exist to be of this kind, because anything which is capable of not existing, at some time or other does not exist† (Aquinas 184). Aquinas believed that there was something that prevented infinite regress of contingency because if not everything contingent would keep going back in time. Aquinas rejects the idea of a time where nothing existed because living in a world where everything is contingent would be impossible. Then anything that does not exist cannot begin to exist unless there is something necessary that exists. To illustrate, you the reader, could not exist if your mother had not existed, so you would be a contingent being. A necessary â€Å"something† needs to be in existence for anything else to exist. Aquinas states this need for a necessary â€Å"something† does not have a necessity from an outside source (Aquinas 184). This â€Å"something† has to be God. Aquinas believes the fourth argument forShow MoreRelatedThomas Aquinas And The Existence Of God849 Words   |  4 Pagesare more successful at arguing for God’s existence than other theories do. Thomas Aquinas, a renowned philosopher and regarded as one of the greatest Christian theologians, wrote about God’s existence which is superior to other philosophers who have attempted to provide their own insight to the topic. Thomas Aquinas’s proof for the existence of God is logical and provides an excellent argument for God’s existence. Aquinas first attempts to prove the existence of God through the concept of self-evidentRead MoreAbelard and Aquinas Essay713 Words   |  3 PagesPeter Abelard was a renowned dialectician from 1079 to 1142. 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I believe that Aquinas’s understanding of the relationship between philosophy and theologyRead MoreThe Five Ways Of Proving God s Existence790 Words   |  4 PagesEdward Tajchman Intro to Philosophy 29 October 2014 Reflections on The Essay, The Five Ways of Proving God s Existence, by Thomas Aquinas Aquinas proposes that there are five ways of proving the existence of god. The first way is motion. Things in motion are not put in motion of their own accord, so they must have been put in motion by another force. This takes a thing from potentiality into the realm of actuality. Because this thing cannot be the mover and also the thing being moved, another forceRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Religion : Thomas Aquinas And Fredrich Nietzsche1364 Words   |  6 Pagesphilosophers have developed theories and guidelines to help people to realize what is most suitable, important, and critical in their spiritual lives. However, the Philosophy of Religion caters to everyone, not just believers. 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St. Thomas Aquinas rejects the argument by saying that the human mind cannot possibly conceive of t he idea of God by reason alone, as Anselm might. Aquinas argues that Anselm s argument does not make sense by itself, and must first provide an idea of the existence of God with an analysis of God s effects. By reasoning appropriately about nature, Aquinas believed, we can find our way to a belief in God. According to Aquinas, it is through nature that God revealsRead MoreAnalysis Of Paley And Aquinas1823 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"Paley† and â€Å"Aquinas† Readings in Topic 4 Introduction In the argument, â€Å"The Argument From Design† from Natural Theology, William Paley argues that living things are like watches in one crucial respect: both exhibit design, the universe with everything in it. Paley thinks that people assume that the universe works for a purpose like the watch does. 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These questions are answered in the arguments of St. Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal and St. Anselm of Canterbury. For thousands of years, theologians, philosophers and scientists have been trying to prove or disprove God’s existence. Many, including the three mentioned above, have strong proofs and theories that