1 Saint Thomas Aquinas

(1225 – 1274 )
Arguments for God’s Existence and Method

2 Terms, Names and Concepts

„ Saint Thomas Aquinas
„ Cosmological Argument
„ Argument from Design
„ Philosophical Method
„ Five arguments for God’s existence
„ Motion
„ Efficient cause
„ Possibility and Necessity
„ Gradation in things
„ Design

3 Saint Thomas Aquinas

(1225 – 1274 )
„ Saint Thomas is one of the leading philosophers of the Roman Catholic Church. His
work concerning arguments for the existence of God is based on an empirical starting
point. Saint Thomas uses other philosophical techniques in his proofs including the
denial of a possible infinite regress and analysis of possibility and necessity. His most
famous proof is called the argument from design.

4 Cosmological Argument
„ The word cosmogony means account as to the origin of the universe. So, a
cosmological argument is one in which starts with the universe and then goes on to
argue from this fact that God is the creator of the universe. The argument from
design, the fifth argument given by Saint Thomas, is often considered a classic
Cosmological argument.

5 Philosophical Method
„ Saint Thomas presents a systematic method that is used by many later
philosophers to inquire into a subject in a way that is orderly and
comprehensive. There are five basic steps to the method. The method
allows one to not only put forth one’s own point of view but also to
consider alternative points of view in the process.

6 The first step in the method

„ The first step is to put forth a philosophical or theological question. This step is
similar to the Socratic approach where Socrates would inquire into the nature of
Holiness or Piety.
„ Saint Thomas puts forth the question: does God exist? This theological or
philosophical question is called and article. By posing a question, Saint Thomas sets
the stage for inquiry.

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 7 The second step in the method
„ The second step involves anticipating objections to his own point of view. The
objection stage is important because it allows the person using the method to
demonstrate that they have knowledge of other points of view opposed to their own
viewpoint and it also sets the stage to demonstrate that their view can meet these
objections and explain why their point of view is better.

8 Third step in the method

„ The third step in the method involves giving an authoritative quotation
that supports one’s point of view. This step is not as important today as it
has been in the past but it is still used today. Saint Thomas quotes the
Bible often with theological concerns and Aristotle in regards to
philosophical matters.

9 The fourth step in the method

„ The fourth step involves putting forth one’s own arguments. Saint Thomas
presents his premises and explains his reasoning and his conclusions.
„ Saint Thomas starts with empirical evidence for his starting point and
ultimately gives five different arguments for God’s existence.

10 The fifth step in the method

„ The fifth step in the method involves returning back to the original
objections and replying to these objections. In addressing these
objections, it gives Saint Thomas a way to convince readers or listeners
that their objections can be met and why his conclusion is superior.

11 Reflections on the Method

„ The method of Saint Thomas is a very good way to inquire into a controversial
subject. It directs investigation systematically and it promotes inquiry into
alternative points of view. There are many later philosophers who make good use of
this method. Rene Descartes and John Stuart Mill are two philosophers who take
advantage of Saint Thomas’s methods in their own unique way.

12 Diagram of the Method

13 The five arguments for God’s existence
„ Saint Thomas presents five separate arguments for God’s existence. The arguments
all have empirical evidence as the starting point and many of them involve the denial
of an infinite chain as part of the proof. Saint Thomas uses concepts we learned
when studying Aristotle. He mentions actuality, potentiality and the efficient cause.
He also includes discussion on necessary beings and possible beings.

14 The Argument from Motion

„ Saint Thomas begins with the fact that it is evident from our senses that the world is in motion. He
then explains that whatever is in motion is put in motion by another. He also includes that motion
is always moving from actuality to potentiality. Since something cannot at the same time be both
actually a mover and the moved, then it follows that whatever is in motion must be put in motion

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 by another. But since there cannot be an infinite chain of both movers and moved, then there
must be a first mover that is not put into motion by another. This first mover Saint Thomas says is
God “ and this everyone understands to be God.”

15 The argument from the nature of efficient cause.

„ Saint Thomas explains that in the world of sense we find an order of causes. By analyzing the
concept of cause and effect, Saint Thomas explains that a cause cannot be the cause of itself. Like
the idea of motion he denies that there can be an infinite chain of causes because then their would
be no ultimate cause which we do in fact experience. For to take away the cause you take away
the effect. So, if there must be a first cause that explains the subsequent effects that we
experience, then this first cause is called God. Saint Thomas concludes his argument with the
words “ Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name
God.”

16 The argument from possibility and necessity

„ Saint Thomas starts with the explanation of a possible being. A possible being is one in which can exist or not exist. Given the
nature of a possible being he says that a possible being cannot always have existed. The reason for this is that if a being is merely
possible then there will be a time in which it does not exist. Therefore if there were only possible beings then it would be impossible
for things to come into existence. You cannot get something out of nothing. So, since we obviously do experience existence, then
there must be at least one necessary being. A necessary being’s existence is necessary. But since a necessary being’s existence is
either caused by another necessary being or it is not, then unless there is an infinite number of necessary beings causing another’s
existence which is absurd to think as suggested in the proof on efficient cause, then it follows that there must be a being whose
necessity does not rely on another. Saint Thomas calls this God. “ Therefore, we cannot put postulate the existence of some being
having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity. This all men speak
of as God.”

17 Argument for the gradation found in things

„ In the argument for the gradation of things Saint Thomas gives his view of what has been called
the great chain of being. The great chain of being associates a value to goodness depending on
the hierarchy of being. Saint Thomas explains that in order to understand the maximum or best in
something there must be an ultimate. Since there must be something that causes being, goodness
and other perfections, Saint Thomas says that God must be this cause.
„ “Therefore, there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness,
and every other perfection; and this we call God.”

18 The argument from the governance of the world

„ The fifth proof is often referred to as the argument form design. Along with Saint Anselm’s
argument the argument from design has been the most influential of Saint Thomas’s proofs.
„ Saint Thomas begins with a survey of the objects we experience form the senses. He explains that
the natural bodies act for an end and clearly do not function as a matter of chance. Now since
natural bodies do have intelligence, it follows that there must be an intelligence that directs them
and this intelligence is clearly not human intelligence. So, the only explanation is that there must
be a divine intelligence. Saint Thomas put it this way.
„ “ Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end;

and this being we call God.”

19 Diagram of five arguments

20 Classroom Discussion
„ The discussion today will be to practice Saint Thomas’s method with a Contemporary
Moral Issue. The first step will be to select a topic.
„ After selecting a topic, the different groups will be assigned a different step in the
method to work on. The last ten minutes will be used to put together the work of
the small groups to organize the five steps and set it up and organize it.

21 Websites of Interest

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„ Saint Thomas’s life and Writings
„ The Great Chain of Being
„ William Paley’s defense of the argument from Design
„ Critics of the argument from design
„ Scholastic method and Descartes