Aquinas' Cosmological Argument

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  • Created by: asma
  • Created on: 10-05-13 20:09
Aquinas' Cosmological Argument
Aquinas' First Way of Motion
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Things are in motion. Nothing can move itself, everything that is moved is moved by another thing.
But each thing requires a previous act of motion.
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But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover.
If there were no first mover, there cannot be subsequent movers, as subsequent movers move only because of the first mover.
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Therefore, there must be a first mover, which we all understand as being God.
Aquinas' Second Way of Cause
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Aquinas' Third Way of Necessity
Since things are generated, it is possible for them to be or not be. If, for all things, they do not exist at some time, then given infinite time there would, at some point, be nothing in existence.
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But nothing can come from nothing. And we can see many things exist. Therefore there must be some things that are necessary, which either come from another thing or themselves.
But as we saw with cause, necessary things cannot go on causing each other forever. Therefore, a Necessary Being exists (i.e., a Being of which it is impossible that it should not exist and causes itself to exist).
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Things are in motion. Nothing can move itself, everything that is moved is moved by another thing.

Back

But each thing requires a previous act of motion.

Card 3

Front

But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Therefore, there must be a first mover, which we all understand as being God.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Aquinas' Third Way of Necessity

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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