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17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the name of the first way for proving Gods existence, and (what) type of argument is it? |
The Argument from Motion, (cosmological argument) |
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What is the name of the second wayfor proving Gods existence, and (what) type of argument is it? |
The Argument from Efficient Cause, (cosmological argument) |
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What is the name of the third way for proving Gods existence, and (what) type of argument is it? |
The Argument from Possibility and Necessity, (cosmological argument) |
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What is the name of the fourth way for proving Gods existence, and (what) type of of argument is it? |
The Argument from Gradation or Degree, (Unique to Aquinas, uses Aristotelean metaphysics) |
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What is the name of the fifth way for proving Gods existence, and (what) type of argument is it? |
The Argument from the Governance of the World, (teleological argument, also known as the argument from design). |
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What is the teleological argument? |
An argument for God's existence based on the complexity or purposefulness of design that is found in the universe |
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What is the cosmological argument? |
An argument for the existence of God based on the need for a first cause or reason for the universe |
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What type of arguments are the first three arguments in Summa Theologiae? |
They are cosmological arguments |
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List the five arguments in the Summa Theologiae |
1. The Argument from Motion 2. The Argument from Efficient Cause 3. The Argument from Possibility and Necessity 4. The Argument from Gradation or Degree 5. The Argument from the Governance of the World |
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What type of argument is the fifth argument in Summa Theologiae? |
Teleological Argument, or Argument by Design |
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What type of argument is the fourth argument in Summa Theologiae? |
Argument from Degree or Gradation |
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Give the name and explain the fourth argument of Aquinas in Summa Theologiae |
The Argument from Gradation There is a gradation found in beings, 'more' and 'less' exist only relation to how they resemble something that is the maximum, the maximum of any genus is the cause of that genus, and God is the being to which our being here, goodness and every other perfection find their cause. |
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Give the name and explain the third argument of Aquinas in Summa Theologiae |
The Argument from Possibility and Necessity At all times it is within the nature of things to either possibly exist, or not exist. These are known as contingent beings. So, for each contingent being there is a time when it does not exist. So, it is impossible for contingent beings to always exist. So, there was a time when nothing existed (Fallacy of Composition?). If nothing existed at a time, then there would be nothing to bring the currently existing contingent beings into existence. So, nothing would exist now. But the claim that nothing exists now is absurd (Reductio Ad Absurdum). So, not every being is contingent. Thus, some being exists necessarily, and this being is God. |
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What is the single conclusion Aquinas seeks to establish through all of the five ways? |
The existence of God |
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Give the name and explain the second argument of Aquinas in Summa Theologiae |
The Argument from Efficient Cause We find that there is an order or series of efficient causes of things in the world. It is impossible for something to exist prior to itself. So, nothing is the efficient cause of itself. If a prior efficient cause does not exist, neither does the effect. So if there isn't a first cause of itself. There can be no effects. This plainly false. This series of efficient causes cannot go on Ad Infinitum (to infinity) into the past, for their would be no efficient cause. Thus, there must be an efficient cause, and that efficient cause is God |
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Give the name and explain the first argument of Aquinas in Summa Theologiae |
The Argument from Motion Our sense reveal that all some things are in motion. A thing which is moved has the potential to move. Motion is the change of something from potentiality to actuality. Only something that is in actual motion can change something from potentiality to actuality. Nothing can simultaneously be both actual and potential in the same respect. So, nothing can be both actually and potentially in motion. So, nothing can cause itself to move. So, whatever is moved is moved by another. The sequence of moved and mover cannot go on ad infinitum (to infinity). So, there must be a first mover, and that mover we know to be God |
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Give the name and explain the fifth argument of Aquinas in Summa Theologiae |
The Argument from the Governance of the World We see that even things that lack knowledge still act for end (pursue some goal, or fulfill some purpose). So, they achieve this goal not by fortune, but by design. What lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end unless it is directed by some knowledgeable intelligent being (As an arrow must be direct by an archer or an intelligent being). So, some intelligent beings exist by whom all natural things are directed towards their end, and this being is God. |
