Aquinas' Five Ways: Examining God's Existence and Arguments

This essay delves into St. Thomas Aquinas' philosophical arguments for the existence of God, specifically focusing on the first two of his 'Five Ways': changeability and causality. The essay explains Aquinas' reasoning, drawing upon Aristotle's concept of the 'first cause' and the relationship between cause and effect, and how these relate to the existence of God. It critically analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Aquinas' arguments, exploring potential counterarguments and assumptions. The essay also examines the influence of philosophers like Immanuel Kant, who questioned the ability of human reason to definitively prove God's existence. Ultimately, the essay assesses whether Aquinas' arguments successfully demonstrate the existence of God, considering both their logical structure and their philosophical implications.

EXPLAIN AND CRITICALLY ANALYSE AT LEAST TWO OF THE FIRST THREE OF AQUINAS’ ‘FIVE WAYS’
FOR PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. WHAT WOULD AQUINAS’ ARGUMENTS DEMONSTRATE
AND DO THEY SUCCEED?
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Establishing the being and presence of God is an effort that plentiful number of theorists,
theologians and intellectuals has been trying from years now. As per some people, it is next
to impossible to prove the existence of God as God is lucent and unbounded by nature
whereas individuals are bounded and immanent by nature. Innate spirituality is an effort to
fight for the conjectures with respect to faith. Two such ways have been found out which
helps one to debate over the existence of God, priori (One who come first) and posterior
(from what comes after). The first move squabbles pro God devoid of depending on any
grounds that engage the predetermined globe such as knowledge. The latter approach
howsoever is dependent upon investigational understanding. St. Thomas Aquinas is one of
the most sought after philosopher and Christian theologian, who has stated five such ways
which helps one to find their answer with regards the existence of God. The approach taken
up by him is the second one i.e posterior in innate theology wherein he is trying his level best
to rationalise and cause out the existence of God in the Universe1. Aquinas has used the ‘five
cause’ proposition spelt out by Aristotle and basis that he has proposed the five ways of
proving the existence of the Almighty. However the said squabble was further reformed later
by various Muslim philosophers and thereby came to be known as the Kalam argument. Each
way stated by St. Thomas Aquinas starts in a unique manner and is diverse but still it is like
as all ultimately summarise to the fact that God does exist2. However, in the said essay, the
concentration would be more on two ways, changeability and causality.
First and foremost as the name says, changeability is nothing but certain objects in this
Universe are always in motion and thereby keeps on changing. All things that can be touched
and learnt are always moving, hence can be said to be in a constant state of change. Aquinas
makes an effort to construct this with the help of a only some properties that can be
concluded to the world is variable. Further, the philosopher also means to say that all things
that are in motion, are not in motion on their own. Rather there is some secondary force
which is putting them into motion3. Thereby the conclusion that can be drawn out of the first
1 Floyd,S., ‘Aquinas: Philosophical Theology’, http://www.iep.utm.edu/aq-ph-th/ 2014, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
2 The Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God (as presented by St. Thomas Aquinas), 2004, https://h2g2.com/entry/A2669231
(Accessed 22nd August 2017)
3 G. Watson, ‘Proving the existence of God : St. Thomas’ Aquinas’ “Five Ways” examined’, Serviam Ministries [Web Blog], 20 May,
2013, https://www.serviamministries.com/blog/proving-the-existence-of-god-st-thomas-aquinas-five-ways-examined/ (Accessed 22nd
August 2017)

way proposed is that there subsists a static reason for modification. In the words of Aristotle
it is called the ‘first cause’. The said theory was already put forward by Aristotle, centuries
ago before the same was discussed by Aquinas in his book on Physics wherein he has
discussed about ‘movement’ in physics via which he forecasted that that there lives an
impassive haulier4.
The fact that Aquinas reasoning is logical in nature, but there are various crucial
examinations that are to be done. Certain presumptions are being made by him which needs
to be looked upon carefully. First and foremost, as has already been discussed above, the
world is perpetual and is always succumb to alterations but lacks behind in considering the
fact that post being created or as is rightly said the Big Bang Theory and the ongoing
expansions, there would have been a condition where the atoms and matter that were present
before the world were not in a state of alterations. It can be supposed that they might be
pursuing a prototype that they have been planned to pursue, or basically just subsisted.
Hence, as per the logic stated in his book, things that persist change only due to laws of
physics and that things are not entitled to do anything that is not possible. For example,
people do not have the ability to get up from a chair and stroll across the garden, thereby
conforming the fact that things just do not bring up to existence on its own, there has to
someone who would put oneself into the moving state. Hence the word ‘alter’ is restricted
within its arena and hence a second summary that can be formed on the basis of the same
reasoning of the argument can be, firstly, the first reason is narrow and hence not making it
God or else the first reason does not exist at all and the world is perpetual. The reasoning of
the disagreement is manoeuvred basis Aquinas’ resistance of innate divinity and it can help to
establish various things and does not inevitably require to guide in the direction of God.
Moving more in the direction of Aquinas’ postulation that the globe is not everlasting and
hence is always on the verge of varying alterations, this is somewhat not identified. However
it is an established theory at the moment as its approved upon by three eminent cosmologists
in the present scenario and time.
The supposition that the globe has a commencement fortifies Aquinas argument. The second
very crucial presumption made by Aquinas is that the reason behind this change in the world
is constant and does not change. The reasonable custom of the disagreement is not required to
4 J. Speaks, ‘ Aquinas first and second ways’, https://www3.nd.edu/~jspeaks/courses/mcgill/201/aquinas-cosmological-argument.html.
2006, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)

forecast that the ‘first cause’ is altering and due to the same, it has hailed back to Aquinas
philosophies of innate theology endeavouring to confirm his idea of the Almighty since the
Bible says God is monotonous and static. Whatsoever, the same is not done to scoff at the
philosophies of Aquinas, in fact his presumptions reflects his passion in his approaches to
conform about God. In the process, Aquinas seems to be shielding his personal notions, ideas
and confidence with reference to God instead of possessing an honest, solely realistic
thoughtful and theoretical study and examination5. After some time, a philosopher by the
name of, Immanuel Kant, assesses critically the philosophies put forward by Aquinas and
concluded that it is impossible to conform God , simply because the Almighty is out of the
range of the realities of human existence and reasoning as well. Human beings being mortals
can only try to conform things that form a part of one’s beliefs and instincts related to the
universe, hence the fact that one cannot practice God proves that it is not possible for people
to prove that God is there. Therefore it can be said that Kant is basically narrowing down the
belief one has on God to faith instead of logics6. Concluding over the fact that God exists or
not is not possible for the individuals who are a part of this world.
The next way suggested by Aquinas’ five ways starts with the fact that all the things that exist
in this world have a casual relationship or are bound together to work with each other in a
manner wherein it leads to cause and effect. Thereby the summary to this is that there persists
an unreasoned reason. All that exists in this present state and at the present point has had a
reason behind which it is formed and the impact that is experienced by all. The supposed
debate is associated to time and thereby yet again make the postulation in relation to start of
time7. It is a necessity that there should be a start of time for this particular ‘way’ of work,
simple reason being that if there is a commencement , then there definitely exists an
unreasoned reason that led to the existence of the world and that unreasoned reason is
perpetual and not the world for sure. For a person to specifically discard this ‘way’, simply
connotes that they will have to acknowledge the outlook that the world is perpetual in nature
or the atoms and the matter before the formation or as is said in the big bang theory that the
5 D. Haines, ‘ A Defense Of Aquinas’s First Way’, Philosopherd Haines [Web Blog], 23 September, 2013,
http://philosopherdhaines.blogspot.in/2013/09/a-defense-of-aquinass-first-way.html (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
6 Some Criticisms of Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument, 2004, https://h2g2.com/entry/A2669303 (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
7 T. Gracyk,, ‘St. Thomas Aquinas : The Existence of God can be proved in five ways’, http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web
%20publishing/aquinasFiveWays_ArgumentAnalysis.htm 2016, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)

world is perpetual. However, even then it is required to evaluate as to what does Aquinas
wants to deliver8. The unreasoned reason being talked about by Aquinas, is a straight reason
as the argument implicated an untailored affiliation among the possessions that are directly
related to one another and are in the construction of itself. That unreasoned reason or what is
assumed by Aquinas as the Almighty is actually nothing else but inspirational and ever
inspiring.
Further to this, the outlook is such that there seems to be a disagreement and incongruity with
regards the analysis and the way of thinking between the argument and the final conclusion.
Due to the same, there seems to be making a big jump with regards faith thereby not paying
attention to whatever there is in the middle. For Aquinas’ debates to be able to reap results, it
would require that the unreasoned reason of the world has a straight relationship and inside
the structure and pattern so as to origin the whole thing that is there. As per Aquinas as well
as Immanuel Kant, his biggest critique, God or as is rightly said the Almighty is understood
to be inspirational and uplifting. However, Immanuel Kant had made all efforts of not
agreeing to the said logical stance since it takes into account empirical and pragmatic data
and awareness or insight to conclude an additional or a greater authenticity as well as truth
which is termed as God9.
However, a very important and a crucial point to be taken into account and discussed at the
present moment is that which God is being tried to be proved by Aquinas. It is understood by
all, that Aquinas is putting all the efforts to try to believe into a particular thing which he
would personally like to trust it as God. However, as has been immediately before this
mentioned, the God of the Bible, the one which is understood and trusted by Aquinas,
unfortunately does not fit in his calculation and the way Aquinas thinks and perceives about
the existence of God. As per the way of thinking of Aquinas, the God that perfectly fits in
here is Brahman or the Hindu origin of God. As is believed by most of the people in this
world, Brahman has a unswerving untailored association and connection with the world and
hence under no circumstances, can be separated from the world10. Taking into account and
8 McGraw,D., ‘To Follow The Second Way of Aquinas’, http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/secondway-mcgraw.html 2015, (Accessed
22nd August 2017)
9 D. McQueen, ‘ What is Aquinas’ Second Way?’ History of Philosophy Quarterly, vol. 11, no.1, 1994,p. 23-35
10 G. Prestidge, ‘Does Aquinas or Scotus Succeed in Proving that the Soul is Immaterial’, https://theoxfordphilosopher.com/2014/07/01/is-
the-soul-immaterial/ 2014, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)

making an assumption that the second way is true, it gives very important and crucial data
and analytics about God. It clearly reveals that this unreasoned reason is very strong since it
helped to form a bog explosion which led to the formation of the universe where all live in.
The unreasoned reason also has the potential of forming element as it led to the formation of
the world and the human beings who reside within it. The unreasoned reason is also
understanding since it was aware that if the matter and the atoms clash with each other
properly it would lead to the formation and the existence of this world. Hence, when all these
things are taken together i.e. influential, generating, meaningful, it is starting to resonance
similar to a heavenly life form, similar to the Almighty11.
Unfortunately, after all the discussions held above, it is understood that Aquinas is not being
able to prove anything. However, these two i..e changeability and causality and the other
three ways as well all point towards an all-powerful heavenly body which is inspirational and
which is termed by all as God. These debates and discussions, however prove one particular
thing very strongly, that is that it is not impossible to have a theoretical and sensible
examination of God by means of being rational and disciplined. The summary may not be
agreed upon, as is said by Kant as well, however even that fails to tenet out the likelihood of
their existing a God. It is impossible to be sure of the fact as to whether God exists or not.
11 K. Broussard, ‘Why Aquinas’s Argument for God Succeeds and Others Fall Short’, https://strangenotions.com/why-aquinas-argument-
for-god-succeeds-and-others-fall-short/ 2014, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)

REFERENCES:
Broussard, K., ‘Why Aquinas’s Argument for God Succeeds and Others Fall Short’,
https://strangenotions.com/why-aquinas-argument-for-god-succeeds-and-others-fall-short/
2014, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
Floyd,S., ‘Aquinas: Philosophical Theology’, http://www.iep.utm.edu/aq-ph-th/ 2014,
(Accessed 22nd August 2017)
Gracyk,T., ‘St. Thomas Aquinas : The Existence of God can be proved in five ways’,
http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/aquinasFiveWays_ArgumentAnal
ysis.htm 2016, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
Haines,D., ‘ A Defense Of Aquinas’s First Way’, Philosopherd Haines [Web Blog], 23
September, 2013, http://philosopherdhaines.blogspot.in/2013/09/a-defense-of-aquinass-first-
way.html (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
McGraw,D., ‘To Follow The Second Way of Aquinas’,
http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/secondway-mcgraw.html 2015, (Accessed 22nd
August 2017)
McQueen,D., ‘ What is Aquinas’ Second Way?’ History of Philosophy Quarterly, vol. 11,
no.1, 1994,p. 23-35
Prestidge,G., ‘Does Aquinas or Scotus Succeed in Proving that the Soul is Immaterial’,
https://theoxfordphilosopher.com/2014/07/01/is-the-soul-immaterial/ 2014, (Accessed 22nd
August 2017)
Speaks,J., ‘ Aquinas first and second ways’,
https://www3.nd.edu/~jspeaks/courses/mcgill/201/aquinas-cosmological-argument.html.
2006, (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
Some Criticisms of Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument, 2004,
https://h2g2.com/entry/A2669303 (Accessed 22nd August 2017)
The Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God (as presented by St. Thomas Aquinas),
2004, https://h2g2.com/entry/A2669231 (Accessed 22nd August 2017)

Watson, G., ‘Proving the existence of God : St. Thomas’ Aquinas’ “Five Ways” examined’,
Serviam Ministries [Web Blog], 20 May, 2013,
https://www.serviamministries.com/blog/proving-the-existence-of-god-st-thomas-aquinas-
five-ways-examined/ (Accessed 22nd August 2017)