Thomas Joseph White #8: The Fourth Way (I, 2, 3)

Summary

In Aquinas' Fourth Way, he posits that the existence of God can be inferred from the degrees of perfection in reality, such as existence, unity, truth, goodness, and beauty. These transcendentals are present in all things, yet none are the cause of the scale itself. Aquinas argues that God, as the transcendent originator, is the source of this scale, providing an intelligible order to the universe that we participate in but do not fully comprehend.

Takeaways

• 📚 Aquinas' Fourth Way is an argument for the existence of God based on the degrees of perfection.
• 🎨 Perfections like color are limited by their nature, whereas transcendentals like existence, goodness, and beauty are not.
• 🌟 These transcendentals are present in all things and can theoretically extend to infinity.
• 🌱 Things can be more or less existent, good, beautiful, or true according to different degrees of perfection.
• 🌿 Aquinas suggests that all things in the universe participate in these perfections, yet none are the cause of the scale of perfections.
• 🤔 The existence of a shared intelligible order implies a transcendent, exemplary cause beyond the scale itself.
• 🔍 Aquinas argues that God is the transcendent originator of the scale of perfections, not part of it.
• 🧠 God is not comprehensible within the set of creatures but is the hidden architect and origin of them.
• 🌌 We can derive knowledge of God's existence from creation, but He remains mysterious and unknown to us.
• 📖 The argument from degrees of perfection is profound and worth considering, even in the modern scientific era.

Q & A

What is the Fourth Way argument by Aquinas?

The Fourth Way is Aquinas' argument from the degrees of perfection, suggesting that certain perfections in reality, like existence, unity, truth, goodness, and beauty, exist in a spectrum and can go all the way to the infinite, implying a transcendent source for these perfections.

How does Aquinas differentiate between perfections like color and those like existence?

Aquinas differentiates by stating that perfections like color are limited by their nature and cannot be infinite, whereas perfections like existence, goodness, and beauty are present in all things and can theoretically extend to infinity without inherent limitation.

What is meant by 'transcendentals' in Aquinas' argument?

Transcendentals refer to the features or characteristics of reality such as being, goodness, truth, and beauty that are present in all things and contribute to their intelligibility and order.

How does Aquinas explain the existence of a spectrum of perfections?

Aquinas explains the existence of a spectrum of perfections by suggesting that all things participate in varying degrees of these perfections, from non-living things to living beings, and within living beings, from basic existence to higher forms of goodness and beauty.

What is the role of the scale of perfections according to Aquinas?

The scale of perfections, as Aquinas describes, is a pre-existing order that all things participate in, suggesting a deeper unity and intelligibility that is not caused by the things themselves but by a transcendent source.

How does Aquinas connect the scale of perfections to the existence of God?

Aquinas argues that since all things share in the intelligible order of the scale of perfections and none of them are the cause of it, there must be a transcendent, exemplary cause, which he identifies as God, who is the source of the scale.

What is the nature of God's relationship to the scale of perfections, according to Aquinas?

God, according to Aquinas, is the transcendent originator of the scale of perfections but is not included in the scale. He is the source of the order of perfections, yet remains incomprehensible and unknown to us.

How does Aquinas suggest we can derive knowledge of God's existence?

Aquinas suggests that we can derive knowledge of God's existence from creation, as the order and intelligibility of the scale of perfections in reality bear witness to a hidden architect and origin.

What is the philosophical stance of Aquinas regarding our understanding of God?

Aquinas holds that while we can infer God's existence from the perfections in the world, our understanding of God remains limited and mysterious, as He is beyond the total set of creatures.

How does Aquinas describe the relationship between individual things and the scale of perfections?

Aquinas describes individual things as not being autonomous measures of reality's perfections but as part of a pre-existing, embedded measure within the scale of perfections that manifests in them.

What does Aquinas mean by 'degrees of perfection' in the context of his argument?

Aquinas refers to 'degrees of perfection' as the varying levels at which the transcendentals such as existence, goodness, and beauty are present in all things, ranging from the most basic to the most exalted forms.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Aquinas' Argument from Degrees of Perfection

Aquinas' Fourth Way argument for the existence of God, presented in 'Summa Theologiae', posits that certain perfections in reality, such as existence, unity, truth, goodness, and beauty, are not inherently limited and can theoretically extend to infinity. These transcendentals are present in all things to varying degrees, suggesting a spectrum of perfection. Aquinas argues that the existence of this spectrum implies a transcendent, intelligent, and exemplary cause—God—who is the source of these perfections. God is not part of the scale of perfections but is its originator, remaining incomprehensible and unknown to us. We can infer His existence from the order of creation but do not fully understand His nature.

05:05

🔍 God as the Incomprehensible Originator

This paragraph elaborates on the concept that God is not merely the highest point on the scale of perfections but is instead the transcendent originator of the entire scale. He is not a part of the created order but is its source. While we can deduce His existence from the perfections we observe in creation, God remains a philosophical enigma to us. He is likened to a hidden architect, whose existence is implied by the order and intelligibility of the created world, yet He remains mysterious and beyond our full comprehension.

Keywords

💡Degrees of Perfection

Degrees of Perfection refers to the varying levels of qualities or attributes that can be found in things. In the context of the video, it is used to describe how certain perfections, like color shades, are inherently limited, whereas others, like existence or goodness, can theoretically extend to infinity. Aquinas uses this concept to argue for a transcendent source of these perfections.

💡Transcendentals

Transcendentals are characteristics like existence, unity, truth, goodness, and beauty that are present in all things to some degree. They are called 'transcendent' because they transcend the specific categories of things and are fundamental to reality itself. Aquinas argues that these transcendentals imply a shared scale of perfections that points to a divine source.

💡Aquinas

Aquinas refers to Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian who is the subject of the video's discussion. His fourth argument for the existence of God, known as the argument from the degrees of perfection, is central to the video's narrative.

💡Summa Theologiae

Summa Theologiae is the principal work of Thomas Aquinas and a central text in Catholic theology. The video discusses Aquinas' fourth argument for God's existence, which is presented in this work.

💡Existence

Existence, in the video, is presented as a transcendental characteristic that all things share to some degree. It is used to illustrate how some perfections can vary infinitely, suggesting a need for an infinite source or originator.

💡Unity

Unity is one of the transcendentals discussed in the video. It refers to the characteristic of being one or whole. Aquinas suggests that all things have a degree of unity, which implies a shared origin or source of this unity.

💡Truth

Truth, as a transcendental, is the characteristic of being in accordance with fact or reality. The video suggests that all things have a degree of truth or intelligibility, which points to a divine source of this intelligibility.

💡Goodness

Goodness is a transcendental quality that all things possess to varying degrees. The video uses the concept of goodness to argue that there is a spectrum of perfections, from the natural goodness of physical things to the moral and intellectual goodness of humans.

💡Beauty

Beauty, in the video, is discussed as a transcendental characteristic that can be found in varying degrees in all things. It is used to illustrate the idea that there is a spectrum of perfections, from modest to exalted, which implies a divine source.

💡Intelligible Order

Intelligible Order refers to the structured and understandable nature of reality, as discussed in the video. It is the order of the scale of perfections that all things participate in, suggesting a deeper unity and intelligibility that points to a divine cause.

💡Divine Wisdom

Divine Wisdom, as used in the video, is the source of the scale of perfections. It is the transcendent, intelligent, and exemplary cause that Aquinas argues for as the originator of the perfections found in all things.

Highlights

Aquinas' fourth argument for the existence of God is based on the degrees of perfection.

Certain perfections in reality do not imply limitation, such as degrees of whiteness or blackness.

Transcendentals like existence, unity, truth, goodness, and beauty are present in all things.

These perfections can theoretically go to infinity without a priori delimiting factors.

Aquinas suggests a spectrum of perfections in things, from non-living to living entities.

There are different grades of existence, from physical to spiritual.

Goodness can be seen in humble physical things as well as in higher forms like human beings.

The spectrum of perfections includes degrees of beauty and goodness.

Aquinas questions how all things share in this intelligible order of perfections.

The realities in the scale are not the cause of the scale itself.

Aquinas argues for a transcendent exemplary cause of divine wisdom as the source of the scale.

God is the transcendent originator of the scale of perfections.

We participate in the scale of perfections but do not comprehend its originator.

God is not part of the scale but is its incomprehensible and unknown source.

We can derive knowledge of God's existence from creation but not fully comprehend Him.

God remains a mysterious and unknown source of the order of perfections.

Transcripts

The Fourth Way (I, 2, 3)

Aquinas’ fourth argument for the existence of God in the ‘Summa Theologiae’

is the one that is perhaps least evident to us in the modern scientific era, but it is tenable, and it is very profound.

So, it's worth thinking about.

It's the argument from the degrees of perfection.

What Aquinas argues, is that there are certain kinds of perfections in reality that, of themselves, don't need to imply any kind of limitation.

Think about a perfection like a degree of whiteness or blackness, of red or purple. Those are degrees of perfection in the order of colour.

You might say that that's a more perfect shade of red and that that's a more diminished shade of red,

but you can't attribute that to all things or think of a kind of infinite redness.

It makes no sense to talk about all things being red, or all things being white, or all things being musical.

Those are perfections that are limited by their very nature.

But then, contrast that with ideas like existence, or being, or unity, or truth, or goodness, or beauty; the so called transcendentals.

These are features, or characteristics of reality, that in a certain way, are present in all things.

All things that exist, insofar as they exist, have a certain kind of being;

they have a certain kind of goodness to them, however humble or exalted; they have a certain unity to them;

they have a certain truth, or intelligibility to them, that precedes our intellectual understanding;

and they have a certain beauty, an integrity, a wholeness, a splendour, however modest or however exalted

- there are degrees of beauty or goodness.

So Aquinas says that there's a spectrum, or a range of these perfections in things, that are present in everything.

They can go all the way, as it were, to the infinite, in principle. There's no delimiting factor, 'a priori', that has to be assigned to them.

But we do see them emerge according to a spectrum of perfections or differentiations.

So, things can be more or less existent according to, you might say, perfections of quantitative endurance, or necessity.

They can exist in different ways, according to different grades: a non-living thing or a living thing,

a living thing that has a spiritual soul, like a human being.

They can exist according to degrees and kinds of goodness.

You can have the goodness of a mere humble, physical thing

that has a kind of a natural goodness to it, insofar as it just exists and has a place in the natural order.

But there's a more characteristic goodness, like we can say, this is a good specimen of this plant, or flower,

or this is a good specimen of this kind of animal,

or this is a good specimen of a human being,

and it has human perfections, whether they be artistic perfections, or whether they be intellectual, or moral perfections.

So there is a range of kinds of goodness and also of beauty, and being, emergent in things.

Aquinas then says, if everything in the universe has some participation in these modes of perfection, - being, goodness, beauty, truth -

how is it that we all share in this intelligible order, of a scale of perfections, that we are not the cause of?

None of the realities in the scale are, themselves, the cause of it, and yet, it has this deeper unity and intelligibility.

Here there is a passage from the intelligible order of the scale of perfection,

to the causal argument for there being a transcendent exemplary cause of the divine wisdom,

that is the source of the scale, in a transcendent and distinct way.

That's to say God, in His, you might say divine mind, or His divine being, His divine goodness,

is the transcendent originator of the scale of perfections

that we participate in, or partake of, according to this set of transcendental characteristics of goodness, being, beauty.

So none of us is, as it were, an autonomous measure of the being, goodness, beauty, and truth, of the reality of the world.

All of us fall within, you could call it a pre-existent, or an embedded measure, that's in the reality of this scale of perfections.

And the scale that is, as it were, manifested in us, or embedded in us,

shows that there's something, as it were, before us, transcendent, intelligent, exemplary,

that's giving being to, and is the source of, the order of the scale of perfections in the reality that is in us and around us.

So, God must be Himself some kind of transcendent being, transcendent goodness, transcendent beauty, transcendent unity,

that we don't know, that remains incomprehensible.

He's not one in the scale. He's not like the infinite edge of the scale.

He's the originator of the entire scale of created perfections but is Himself not included in that scale of perfections,

but is its originator and incomprehensible and unknown source.

We can derive knowledge from creation that He must exist, but we don't comprehend Him, as it were, within the total set of creatures,

but only as the hidden architect and origin of that set of creatures,

who it bears witness to, but who also remains, in some real sense, philosophically speaking, mysterious and unknown to us.