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Questions and Answers
Why does St. Thomas Aquinas argue for the existence of a necessary being?
What is the basis for St. Thomas Aquinas' First Cause proof?
According to St. Thomas Aquinas' Greatest Being proof, where does anything great derive its greatness from?
Why does St. Thomas Aquinas argue for the existence of an intelligent designer?
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First Mover: Anything moved is moved by another. There cannot be an infinite series of movers. So there must be a ______.
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First Cause: Anything caused is caused by another. There cannot be an infinite series of causes. So there must be a ______.
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Necessary Being: Contingent beings require an already contingent being to bring them into existence. So there is a ______ upon which other beings depend for their existence.
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Greatest Being: Whatever is great to any degree gets its greatness from that which is the greatest. So there is a ______, which is the source of all greatness.
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Intelligent Designer: Whatever acts for an end must be directed by an intelligent being. So the world must have an ______ who directs all things in it.
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According to St. Thomas Aquinas' First Mover proof, why must there be a ______?
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According to St. Thomas Aquinas' Greatest Being proof, where does anything great derive its greatness from?
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What is the basis for St. Thomas Aquinas' First Cause proof?
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Necessary Being: Contingent beings require an already contingent being to bring them into existence. So there is a ______ upon which other beings depend for their existence.
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Intelligent Designer: Whatever acts for an end must be directed by an intelligent being. So the world must have an ______ who directs all things in it.
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Study Notes
Existence of a Necessary Being
- St. Thomas Aquinas argues that contingent beings cannot exist without a necessary being to bring them into existence.
- This necessary being is self-existent, meaning it does not rely on anything else for its existence.
Basis for First Cause Proof
- Aquinas' First Cause proof asserts that every effect has a cause.
- An infinite regress of causes is impossible, thus necessitating a First Cause, which itself is uncaused.
Greatest Being Proof
- According to Aquinas, all greatness derives from the greatest being, which is the source of all greatness and perfection.
- This greatest being serves as the ultimate standard for comparative greatness among other beings.
Existence of an Intelligent Designer
- Aquinas argues that anything that has purpose or acts toward an end must be directed by an intelligent being.
- The complexity and order in the world imply the existence of an intelligent designer who orchestrates everything.
First Mover Argument
- "Anything moved is moved by another" highlights that movement cannot originate from itself.
- An infinite series of movers is not feasible; hence, there must be a First Mover that initiates all motion.
First Cause Conclusion
- Similarly, "Anything caused is caused by another" indicates that causes must originate from a single uncaused cause.
- This leads to the necessity of a First Cause to stop the infinite chain of causation.
Necessary Being Summary
- All contingent beings depend on a Necessary Being for their existence.
- This Necessary Being is essential, as it exists independently of anything else.
Greatest Being Conclusion
- The notion that "whatever is great to any degree gets its greatness from the greatest" encapsulates the idea of a supreme source of greatness.
Intelligent Designer Conclusion
- The requirement of an intelligent being to direct all purposeful actions leads to the conclusion of an Intelligent Designer guiding creation.
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Description
Explore the philosophical arguments put forth by St. Thomas Aquinas to demonstrate the existence of God. Learn about the five proofs including the First Mover, First Cause, Necessary Being, and more.
