Thomas Aquinas Flashcards
(4 cards)
5 ways to demonstrate the existence of god
aquinas came up with 5 ways. 2 of which are cosmoloigical and teleological
teleological deign argument
1) we can see that things that lack intelligence act for some end {telos} (we can see that things act so as to obtain the best result)
2) not fortuitously, but designedly, dp things achieve an end
3) whatever lacksintelligence cannot move toward some end unles it isdirected by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence (as the archer ditects the arrow)
4) there must be some intelligent being by whom all natural things are directed to their end, and this we call God
summa theologia
1) the quetion
2) objections (other ideas)
3) on the contrary….
4) i answer that….
5) replies to objections
repeat
cosmological argument
1) it is evident to our enses that in this world some things are in motion
2) whatever is in motion is put in motion by another (motion in the reduction of a thing from a state of potentiality to a state of actuality)
3) that which is put in motion is itself put in motion by another and that by yet another and that by yet another and so on
4) but this cannot go on for infinity becaue then there would be no first mover (and thus no othermover)
5) there must therefore be a first mover put in motion by no other and this is god