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Aquinas on Natural Theology

Introduction

Natural theology is a set of arguments that attempt to explain and prove God's

existence. The existence of God is frequently justified by the world's order, beauty, and

intellectual factors. The two main issues of natural theology are knowledge of God's

existence derived through human reason (so-called natural knowledge of God) and

knowledge of God's existence revealed to humanity by God Himself.

Knowledge of God may be through rational demonstration. Demonstration from

Aquinas’s view point is a form of thinking that yields conclusions that are sure and necessary

for those who know the truth. It will also reveal God’s important attributes such as His omni

potency, infinity, immutability, self-sufficiency among others. However, Aquinas does not

lay claim that these efforts will give us all the knowledge about the nature of God but he

thinks that humans thinking in a logical way can illuminate some of what the Christian faith

professes.

Some truths about God are beyond what logical thinking can deduce. Knowledge of

them will therefore require a unique source of divine truth which is sacred instruction(Te

Velde). Whether divine instruction is authoritative depends on whether what it teaches about

God is true. So how then can we be concrete on sacred teaching as a source of spiritual
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knowledge? This requires that we consider what part faith plays in endorsing what the sacred

teachings advocates for belief.

Aquinas demonstrates a number of ways to show that God does exist. Aquinas

demonstrates the existence of God in five ways. He anchors his proofs from an observed

feature of the universe and through analysis and rational deduction he concludes that God is

the first cause.

Aquinas Proofs to show the Existence of God

Proof of Motion

The term motion is used by Aquinas to imply change and not only in terms of

locomotion. This wide implication encompasses the reality of existence and non-existence,

(Kelly 39). Motion applies to everything in the universe since nothing is unsusceptible to

change and degeneration.

Motion among the basic features of the universe. Hence when Aquinas focuses on this

feature of the universe his intent is to account for what causes of these changes in the

universe. If things change, how do we explain the change we see in the universe. Unless a

thing is moved by something that is already in existence its motion cannot be accounted for.

If we are to solve the argument of what causes motion in the universe. Aquinas is of

the assumption of the unmoved mover or uncaused cause. Aquinas appropriates this logic of

the unmoved mover as a proof for God existing.

Proof from Efficient Causes

Efficient cause is one of the four known causes that are identified by Aristotle in his

metaphysics. We discern a sequence of efficient causes of things in the world. That nothing

recognizable in the world exists before to itself. So, if the initial thing in a sequence does not
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exist hence nothing in the sequence can exist. Hence efficient causes do not run infinitely into

the past cause if then nothing would be existing now. If an initial efficient cause does not

exist, neither does the effect (thing that results). It is therefore important to acknowledge an

initial efficient cause to which Aquinas recognized this cause to be God.

Proof from Possibility and Necessity

The starting point of the third proof is a statement of observation in respect to nature

namely, things in nature can be found which are possible to exist and not to exist (contingent

beings). Contingent beings have a sufficient cause or a satisfactory exposition for their

existence. Conversely, a necessary is a being which its nonexistence is inconceivable and it

does not originate from another thing or being (Davies 515).

Aquinas assumes that all beings are contingent beings, for each contingent being there

is a time it does not exist it implies that there is time when no things existed. At that time

there would have been nothing to bring contingent beings which exist into being. Hence it

brings us to the conclusion that not all thing are contingent things. Therefore, some things

exist out of requisite and do not get their being from another being, but rather causes others to

become. Then this proofs the existence of God.

Proof from Gradation of Being

This proof starts with the statement that there are grades in the value of things. That is

things do not represent the same value. Nothing is as outright to the fact that we make

outright differentiation and judgement about things. We prefer one thing to another of the

same kind since we infer it to be of more value than its counterpart (Durant 187). Therefore,

we make choices based on our comparative judgements of the items in question. Thus, we

can judge people to be more sociable, intelligent or kinder. Also, we can judge a thing to be

colder or hotter than another thing.

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Aquinas intent on grading of things due to their values in this context is to offer a

reasoned conclusion of whether God exists. From his standpoint if there is no supreme degree

of truth and goodness the being of any lower degree would be unexplainable.

Proof from Design

This is proof argues from the fact that there is order in the universe. It is based on the fact that

order can be observed in the universe. Things just do not happen arbitrarily but due to a

certain purpose intrinsic in them. Events and things have a reason and their innate purpose

regulates their activity.

Most natural things do not possess knowledge. And as car arrives to its destination

since it is directed by a driver what lacks intelligence achieves goals through direction by

something intelligent (Dodds). Hence, an intelligent being should exist that directs all natural

things to their end. And this natural being we call God.

Criticisms of Aquinas Arguments for the Existence of God

As commendable as Aquinas efforts are there are some arguments that dispel his

arguments for the existence of God.

Observance of cause and effect in the universe, this rule does not imply that it applies

to the universe as a whole. It is often called the fallacy of composition, what may be true for

some parts does not necessarily mean that it is true for the whole. Hume argues that the

fundamental premise that every event must have a cause cannot be proved or established.

Aquinas narrows God’s Existence to monotheism. When he gives the name “God” to

the first efficient cause. Hume argues that there could be many first efficient causes hence

giving the possibility for polytheism.

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Hume also argues that any being that exists can also not exist. Therefore, there is no

contradiction thinking that no being exists. This is true of God also since there is no

contradiction in saying ‘God does not exist’. So, when Aquinas requires God to be a

necessary being this false logic. If something has to be necessary, why cannot it be the matter

that makes up the universe.

If there is a comprehension of an initial mover there can also be comprehension of

eternal motion. In other words, Hume asks why, motion must have a starting point why is

infinite motion impossible?

Conclusion

The strengths of Aquinas proofs cannot be dispelled and he is able to proof that God

does exist in his five proofs. Definitely there are strengths and weaknesses in Aquinas

arguments but the strengths outweigh the deficiencies in these arguments.

If the universe is unexplainable then science works on the opposite principle. The

object that there could be a group of some necessary beings rather than just one. Aquinas

argues unless there is at least one being which has in itself the purpose for its own existence.

Then the existence of anything cannot be explained.

The universe may exist eternally and uncaused is another object that does not explain

the fact. No cosmological or scientific theories can be able to explain why things exists rather

than nothing. The existence of God explains that.

According to Aquinas faith in God is supported by reason but faith is not as a result of

reasoned arguments.
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Works cited

Davies, Brian. "The Metaphysical Thought of Thomas Aquinas: From Finite Being to

Uncreated Being." American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 76.3 (2002): 515-516.

Dodds, Michael J. The Unchanging God of Love: Thomas Aquinas and contemporary

theology on divine immutability. CUA Press, 2008.

Durrant, Michael. "Anthony Kenny. The Five Ways: St Thomas Aquinas' Proofs of God's

Existence. Pp. 120. (Studies in Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, Routledge and

Kegan Paul, London, 1969)." Religious Studies 7.2 (1971): 187-189.

Kelly, Charles J. "Some fallacies in the first movement of Aquinas' third way." International

Journal for Philosophy of Religion (1981): 39-54.

Te Velde, Rudi. Aquinas on God: the'divine science'of the Summa theologiae. Routledge,

2017.