explain Aquinas' Cosmological argument
Explain Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument
Thomas Aquinas developed five ways to prove Gods existence. The first three are key to the Cosmological argument. These are from motion, causation, and contingency. He presented his work on these in the Summa Theologica, where he accepts that it may be impossible to prove the God of Classical theism caused the universe to exist, but believes that what God does proves Gods existence.
The first way is from motion, Aquinas emphasises that motion means changes, instead of the common concept of movement from one place to another. Aquinas stated that movement or motion clearly takes place within the universe, for movement to occur there must be an external force applied to allow this movement to happen. This will go back in a pattern, as everything needs something to cause its movement. Aquinas stated that there must be a ‘prime mover’ that starts this chain of movement, but is unmoved itself. For Aquinas this prime mover must be God. He writes that ‘it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other, and everyone understands this to be God.’
The second way put forward in the Summa Theologica is the efficient cause. For Aquinas it is easy to establish that there are things in this universe that are caused by something other than themselves, and that nothing can be the efficient cause of itself. An example of this is adding fire to wood, allowing the wood to heat up, therefore helping the woods potential of becoming hot actual. These efficient causes follow in order, once again creating a chain of causes spreading back. Aquinas one again argues that this chain cannot continue infinitely, once again using the example of wood not being able to make it hot. It is therefore necessary to have an ‘uncaused cause’, one again for Aquinas this is given the name God.
The third way is from contingency. Aquinas highlighted the fact that often things come into existence, and also cease to exist. Animals are a key example
Thomas Aquinas developed five ways to prove Gods existence. The first three are key to the Cosmological argument. These are from motion, causation, and contingency. He presented his work on these in the Summa Theologica, where he accepts that it may be impossible to prove the God of Classical theism caused the universe to exist, but believes that what God does proves Gods existence.
The first way is from motion, Aquinas emphasises that motion means changes, instead of the common concept of movement from one place to another. Aquinas stated that movement or motion clearly takes place within the universe, for movement to occur there must be an external force applied to allow this movement to happen. This will go back in a pattern, as everything needs something to cause its movement. Aquinas stated that there must be a ‘prime mover’ that starts this chain of movement, but is unmoved itself. For Aquinas this prime mover must be God. He writes that ‘it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other, and everyone understands this to be God.’
The second way put forward in the Summa Theologica is the efficient cause. For Aquinas it is easy to establish that there are things in this universe that are caused by something other than themselves, and that nothing can be the efficient cause of itself. An example of this is adding fire to wood, allowing the wood to heat up, therefore helping the woods potential of becoming hot actual. These efficient causes follow in order, once again creating a chain of causes spreading back. Aquinas one again argues that this chain cannot continue infinitely, once again using the example of wood not being able to make it hot. It is therefore necessary to have an ‘uncaused cause’, one again for Aquinas this is given the name God.
The third way is from contingency. Aquinas highlighted the fact that often things come into existence, and also cease to exist. Animals are a key example