Proofs for Existence of God Flashcards
(15 cards)
What are the five proofs of Aquinas
Argument from mover
Argument from causer
Argument from necessity
Argument from degree
Argument from design
What are 4 premises of Aquinas’ first proof
- Everything in the world moves
- Nothing moves unless something starts it moving
- This chain can’t be infinitely long
- There must have been a very first movement that was not moved itself
What is the conclusion of Aquinas’ first proof
This ‘first mover’ was God
What are 4 premises of Aquinas’ second proof
Everything in the world is caused
Nothing can exist prior to itself, so nothing can cause itself
This chain of cause and effect cannot be infinitely long
There must have been something that was the first ‘causer’ of other things
What is the conclusion of Aquinas’ second proof
The ‘first cause’ was God
What are 3 premises of Aquinas’ third proof
Everything in the world is contingent (has a beginning and end & depends on something else for existence)
Nothing would exist unless there was a being that was not dependent on anything else to exist, that brought others into existence
This would be a necessary being (it cannot not exist)
What is the conclusion to the third proof
This necessary being is God
What are 3 premises of Aquinas’ fourth proof
All things exhibit greater/lesser degrees of perfection/goodness
There must be an ultimate source of all of these qualities
This must cause these qualities in all other things
What is the conclusion of the fourth proof
The ultimate source of these qualities is God
What are 2 premises of Aquinas’ fifth proof
Everything in the world seems to be working towards a purpose
Unintelligent beings must be guided towards this purpose by an intelligent being
What is the conclusion to the fifth proof
This intelligent being is God
How does Anselm’s describe God
That than which nothing greater can be thought’
What are the 2 premises to Anselm’s argument
P1: As we can conceptualise this being, God exists at least in the understanding
P2: It is greater to exist both in the mid and reality, than only in the mind
Conclusion to Anselm’s argument
If God only existed in the mind, he would not be the greater possible being. This is a contradiction and therefore…
C: God, as the greatest possible being, must exist in reality, as well as in the mind
NOTE DOWN FOR AND AGAINST ARGUMENTS FOR EACH PROOF OF AQUINAS AND ANSELMS ARGUMENT AND IF THEY ARE CONVINCING OR NOT
