St. Thomas Aquinas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)

Summary

In this philosophical discourse, the focus is on St. Thomas Aquinas's 'Summa Theologiae' and his famous five ways to prove the existence of God. The video suggests that Aquinas's favored argument might be the first way, characterized by its 'manifestior' nature, meaning clearer or more evident. The argument hinges on the concept of a 'first mover that is in no way moved,' which Aquinas posits as the unmoved cause of change. The video explores the premise that change is observable and undeniable, making it the most palpable starting point for Aquinas's argument. It invites viewers to consider whether this is their preferred method among the five and encourages further exploration of Aquinas's philosophy.

Takeaways

• 🧐 Philosophers, like St. Thomas Aquinas, can have favorite arguments, and Aquinas might have favored the first of his Five Ways for proving God's existence.
• 📜 Aquinas introduces the first way as 'manifestior', suggesting it is clearer and more evident than the other four ways.
• 🔍 The first way is structured around the concept of a 'first mover that is in no way moved', which Aquinas equates with 'god'.
• 🤔 The argument's clarity is not about certainty but about the ease of understanding the premise that change requires a cause.
• 🔥 Examples like fire causing wood to burn illustrate how some movers are also moved, but God, as the unmoved mover, is not.
• 🤨 The premise that something moved must have an unmoved mover is the most contentious part of the argument.
• 🌟 The argument's foundation is the undeniable reality of change, which Aquinas believes is self-evident and palpable.
• 💡 Aquinas asserts that change is not self-caused; it requires an external cause, leading to the conclusion of an unmoved mover.
• 📝 The argument concludes that since there is change, and everything that changes is changed by something else, there must be an unmoved mover, which is 'god'.
• 📖 For further exploration, the video encourages visiting Aquinas101.com for resources and free courses on Aquinas's philosophy.

Q & A

What does St. Thomas Aquinas refer to as 'manifestior' when describing the first of his Five Ways?

St. Thomas Aquinas refers to the first of his Five Ways as 'manifestior,' which is a Latin word meaning 'clearer,' 'more obvious,' 'more evident,' or 'more palpable,' indicating that he considers it more evident than the other four ways.

What is the core structure of Aquinas's Five Ways?

The core structure of Aquinas's Five Ways is a syllogistic argument with the form: 'A (blank) is what we call 'a god'; but some being is a (blank); therefore, some being is what we call 'a god.' The first premise provides a working definition of 'god,' and the second premise asserts the existence of something in the world that corresponds to that definition.

How does Aquinas define 'god' in the context of the first way?

In the context of the first way, Aquinas defines 'god' as 'a first mover that is in no way moved,' meaning that god is something that causes change but is itself not subject to change.

What is the argument of the first way according to Aquinas?

The argument of the first way is: 'A first mover that is in no way moved is what we call 'a god'; but some being is a first mover that is in no way moved; therefore, some being is what we call 'a god.'

What does Aquinas mean by 'a mover' in his argument?

Aquinas means by 'a mover' something that causes a change. For example, fire causing wood to burn, light causing a stained-glass window to shine, or a lecture causing an audience to fall asleep.

Why does Aquinas believe there must be an unmoved mover?

Aquinas believes there must be an unmoved mover because if something is moved by something else, then there must be an initial cause that is not itself moved, which he identifies as 'god.'

What premise in the first way does Aquinas consider to be most evident or palpable?

Aquinas considers the premise that 'something changes' to be the most evident or palpable, as it is a reality we experience through our senses and is foundational to his argument.

How does Aquinas argue that change requires a cause?

Aquinas argues that change requires a cause by stating that everything that is changed is changed by something else, and since something is changed, it must be changed by something else.

What is the significance of the first way's starting point in Aquinas's Five Ways?

The starting point of the first way, which is the reality of change, is significant because it is considered the most palpable and evident premise, being directly observable and experienced, and it serves as the foundation for Aquinas's argument for the existence of god.

What is the final conclusion of the first way in Aquinas's argument for the existence of god?

The final conclusion of the first way is that since there is change and everything that changes is changed by something else, there must be an unmoved mover, which Aquinas equates with 'god.'

What is the purpose of the website mentioned in the script, Aquinas101.com?

The purpose of Aquinas101.com is to provide resources such as readings, podcasts, and video courses on St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophy, including his Five Ways, to help people understand and engage with his work.