Saint Thomas Aquinas was a philosopher in the 13th century credited with his philosophical works: Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles. These were used as a basis of Christian theology for early theologians. In these works, Aquinas spells out what is known as “The Five Ways.” This is a series of five arguments that Aquinas believed to prove the existence of God using the facts one can observe in the world. Two of the arguments used are the argument from motion and the argument from design. The argument from motion, Aquinas argues, notes the changes we see in the world from a state of potentiality to actuality, and credits what is believed to be God as the First Mover. The argument from design is based on the order we see in the world.
…show more content…
Aquinas’ argues that in the world, one can notice things are in motion. He argues that these events are characterized by different things being moved from a state of potentiality to a state of actuality (Stewart et al., 2010). For example, seeds have the potential to be flowers, but until they are acted upon and planted, they remain in a potential state instead of an actual state of a flower. Aquinas continued to argue that these movements from potentiality to actuality that we continually observe in nature cannot simply go on forever. At some point, there has to be a first mover which started this series of movements, at which people arrive at to be God (Stewart et al., …show more content…
Among several criticisms to the argument, Hume argues that the existence of an intelligent designer needs explaining in and of itself (Speaks, 2006). This argument highlights a flaw in the theory of teleological arguments in that it creates an infinite loop of possibilities. How did God come to be, does he have an intelligent designer? One can follow that logic to infinity. Another criticism Hume outlines is the simple lack of evidence to support the theory. He contends that in nature, one can observe natural occurrences that happen repetitively time and time again, but there is a lack of correlation between the universe itself and an intelligent creator. (Speaks, 2006). The theory of evolution, which was not known in Aquinas’ day, is another scientific way to explain the natural order we see in the world. We look at the world today and understand that it is ordered from processes like natural selection, erosion, etc. Again, the basic principles of Aquinas’ arguments are refuted in a way that is more reasonable and sound in the world we live in
Aquinas’ argues that in the world, one can notice things are in motion. He argues that these events are characterized by different things being moved from a state of potentiality to a state of actuality (Stewart et al., 2010). For example, seeds have the potential to be flowers, but until they are acted upon and planted, they remain in a potential state instead of an actual state of a flower. Aquinas continued to argue that these movements from potentiality to actuality that we continually observe in nature cannot simply go on forever. At some point, there has to be a first mover which started this series of movements, at which people arrive at to be God (Stewart et al., …show more content…
Among several criticisms to the argument, Hume argues that the existence of an intelligent designer needs explaining in and of itself (Speaks, 2006). This argument highlights a flaw in the theory of teleological arguments in that it creates an infinite loop of possibilities. How did God come to be, does he have an intelligent designer? One can follow that logic to infinity. Another criticism Hume outlines is the simple lack of evidence to support the theory. He contends that in nature, one can observe natural occurrences that happen repetitively time and time again, but there is a lack of correlation between the universe itself and an intelligent creator. (Speaks, 2006). The theory of evolution, which was not known in Aquinas’ day, is another scientific way to explain the natural order we see in the world. We look at the world today and understand that it is ordered from processes like natural selection, erosion, etc. Again, the basic principles of Aquinas’ arguments are refuted in a way that is more reasonable and sound in the world we live in