Does God Exist? – Aquinas Essay, Research Paper
Does God Exist? Since the beginning of time, man has been struggling to answer the question,
how did we get here? What or who was responsible for the creation of life and the cosmos? It
seemed natural to conclude that there must have been a higher power that created the reality
known by man. However, how does one prove the existence of such a God? This has been the
major preoccupation of theologians and philosophers which began several hundred years before
Jesus Christ, and has continued to be the subject of heated debate ever since. We readily accept
the universe and everything contained within it, but can’t seem to agree upon how it got here in
the first place. After all, stating that God exists and then actually proving His existence are two
different things, and the latter can prove to be a rather daunting task. Most early philosophers
maintained that God most certainly did exist and attempted to use scientific arguments to prove
their point. However, perhaps the most quoted philosopher on the absolute existence of God is
not a scientist, but rather, perhaps more appropriately, a theologian. St. Thomas Aquinas was a
student of philosophy and was influential in incorporating philosophy into the religious doctrine,
which provides the foundation for the modern-day Roman Catholic religious beliefs. Aquinas
examined the question of God’s existence in great detail in his philosophical works, Summa
Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles. He wrote, “Beginning with sensible things, our intellect
is led to the point of knowing about God that He exists, and other such characteristics that must
be attributed to the First Principle” . Aquinas had the typical philosopher mentality by asserting
that it cannot be just merely accepted that God exists, since this contention is not immediately
evident. It is a declaration that must be proven. In other words, faith alone is not sufficient
enough evidence to conclude that God exists. Aquinas pointed out that what may be conceived in
the intellect does not necessarily exists in reality (Grace, 1996). To make his own case regarding
this issue, Aquinas established his five criteria on the existence of God through Summa
Theologica, the first three of which became known form the basis of the cosmological argument
confirming God’s existence. The five ways Aquinas used to confirm the existence of God all
stemmed from a first cause argument. In other words, life perpetuates itself as one cause prompts
the occurrence of an event that becomes the cause for a subsequent event and so on through
infinity. However, at some point, there had to be a first cause, which set these wheels into
motion, which is the being commonly referred to as God. In the First Way, Aquinas established
that everything that is finite undergoes change, and by following these successive changes, finite
man is eventually led to God. Until this happens, finite objects cannot be changed. Aquinas’
Second Way is based upon the theory of causality, which is a detailed explanation of how the
first cause is the only explanation for continual “cause and effect” of the universe. Next, Aquinas
established the criteria of a ‘necessity’ of being. In other words, something cannot come from
nothing. There had to be a transient being in place for all existence to evolve. He wrote, “We
find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be…. But it is impossible for these things
to always exist, for that which is possible not to be at some time is not. Therefore, if everything
is possible not to be, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence.” In other
words, if there were no existence historically, nothing would exist at the present time. Since
existence is not in question today, there must have been an eternal existence that started it all –
God. By the nineteenth century, philosophers were not quite so content to blindly accept the
existence of God. Certain skepticism began to prevail, and this was reflected in the philosophy of
the time period. Perhaps one of the most articulate spokesmen who argued against the existence
of God was British philosopher David Hume, the founder of the ’skeptical school of philosophy.’
He openly criticized Aquinas’ “first cause” theory as an ineffective argument, asking, “What was
the cause of the First Cause?”. He and others pointed out, quite rightly, if every occurrence
must have a cause, what makes anyone conclude that it began with God? There has never been a
valid argument establishing God as the ‘First Cause’ according to David Hume. Of course, it
should perhaps be pointed out that opponents of Hume have taken the theological “high road,”
maintaining that it is assumed that in the moral order, everything begins with God, and this is a
process that is beyond question. Furthermore, according to Hume, Aquinas’ argument is
philosophically flawed because he makes the assumption that the characteristics of the parts
equal the characteristics of the whole. In other words, just because some consequences in the
universe may be attributed to a cause does not mean that the entire universe can be traced to one
root cause. After all, if God is the cause of the universe, this means that God is a cause onto
Himself. Why can’t the creation of the universe be explained in similar terms? Remaining always
the skeptic, Hume’s argument stops short of claiming that God does not exist, which would be
atheism. Rather, he regarded his task as casting reasonable doubt as to whether or not God exists,
which is agnosticism. David Hume further expounded on his unconventional religious
philosophy in his 1757 essay, The Natural History of Religion. He suggested that people
continued to believe in the existence of God because they were conditioned to do so. Hume
wrote: Our ancestors in Europe, before the revival of letters, believed, as we do at present, that
there was one supreme God, the author of nature, whose power, though in itself uncontrollable,
was yet often exerted by the interposition of his angels and subordinate ministers, who executed
his sacred purposes. But they also believed, that all nature was full of other invisible powers,
fairies, goblins, elves, sprits, beings, stronger and mightier than men, but much inferior to the
celestial natures, who surround the throne of God. Hume’s implication is clear: If man did not
believe in the existence of God, he would incur considerable wrath from above. Hume continued
by asserting that literature had much to do with public perception of God and of His existence.
Ancient Greek poets bestowed upon their esteemed Gods human qualities they knew their
compatriots could easily relate to. It was this ‘ignorant’ ancient Greek view of God offered by the
Greek poets and Aristotle, upon which the God’s existence theory of Thomas Aquinas was based.
Hume asserted that the original faith placed in God’s existence grew from the uneducated masses
that developed the myth of an all-powerful Perfect Being who was responsible for the creation of
everything that could not be explained. These people could not explain such natural
phenomenons as lightning or earthquakes so they attributed them to some higher power. Today
there are empirical, scientific explanations for these occurrences. The possibility exists that
someday science will somehow be able to prove or disprove the theory that God exists. With
both points of view presented, which, if either, is correct? Aquinas’ argument, an admirable
model of deductive reasoning, is lacking in scientific validity. Hume argued, perhaps correctly,
that this historical description of a natural and moral order only grew from man’s desire to live an
ordered existence, not from God’s existence. People will forever be arguing around their dinner
tables about the existence of God. Many take comfort in the belief that there is one Creator who
still exists in the universe, a perfect being who watches out for His ‘imperfect’ children.
However, the argument that God exists because he was the ‘First Cause’ of everything is too
simplistic for the sophisticated intellect to accept. It may be spiritually comforting to believe in
the existence of a higher power, but there is no irrefutable evidence to suggest that God was ‘the
cause’ of everything, hence proving His existence. As we approach the new millennium,
skepticism prevails and continues to reign supreme.
Grace, R. Jeffrey. A Report on Summa Contra Gentiles Book One: God by Thomas Aquinas [Online]. October 1996. Available: electriciti/~rjgrace/scg.htm.
Hume, David. The Natural History of Religion [Online]. 1757. Available: utm.edu/research/hume/wri/nhr/nhr.
Porter, Burton F. (editor). Religion & Reason: An Anthology. New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1993.
Stairs, Allen. The Cosmological Argument [Online]. March 1998. Available: brindedcow.umd.edu/236/aquinas.html.
Titus, Harold H., and Smith, Marilyn S. Living Issues in Philosophy (Sixth Edition). New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1974.
Thompson, Karl F. (editor). Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Contra Gentiles. Classics of Western Thought: II. Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973.
Другие работы по теме:
St Anselm
’S Ontological Argument For The Experience Of God. Essay, Research Paper God’s existence may vary from philosopher to philosopher, but according to the late St. Anselm,
St Augustine Essay Research Paper Saint Augustine
St. Augustine Essay, Research Paper Saint Augustine, who lived in the late 4th and early 5th centuries, created a very interesting perspective on the notion of evil. Augustine first views of evil followed the doctrine of the Manichaen Dualists?. Their idea was that there were two omnipotent forces, good and evil, constantly fighting.
Animal Chromosomes Essay Research Paper Different kinds
Animal Chromosomes Essay, Research Paper Different kinds of Animal chromosomes exist with very different parts. To start, in animal cells three different kinds of chromosomes can be seen. The first kind is the X chromosome, which is one of the sex-determining chromosomes. The other sex-determining chromosome is the Y chromosome.
Am I An Idealist Essay Research Paper
Idealism is a very radical way of solving the mind-body problem, and what I mean by that is that it totally takes out matter and uses the mind as the sole reality. Idealists believe that the mind is reality. Idealism is a meta. Personally myself, I believe that I am and Idealist. The reason I think this is because of one main incentive monism.
St. Anselm
’s God Necessarily Exists Essay, Research Paper Throughout history It has been man kinds quest to find a proof of the existence of God. Even today, religious archeologist, plunder the Earth, looking for Noah’s Ark, The Ark of the Covenant, or the site Jesus Christ was thought to have been buried. These men and women are searching for artifacts to prove the existence of God to people who believe there is no God.
Sexually Transmited Disease Essay Research Paper The
Sexually Transmited Disease Essay, Research Paper The world today has slowly come to a very scary time. We have been plagued with a number of diseases, which can be acquired with the greatest of ease. As immune as one may think they are to the sexually transmitted diseases, there is nothing one can do or pay for that would take away what could end up being a part of ones life forever.
Absoluve Versus Relative Evil Essay Research Paper
Danny RheeEnglish IIIDecember 22, 1998 Absolute Versus Relative Evil As absolute evil is compared to relative evil, one can conclude that our society today, molds evil as relative. By trying to find the root of absolute evil, it may have been pronounced beyond the breech of our imaginations. An example of absolute evil has existed beyond our belief, absolute evil has been demonstrated in many aspects of life, one example would be during the anglo-saxon time period, in the short story Beowulf.
Can We Ever Reach Certainty Essay Research
Paper First, I would like to quote Descartes: “Cogito, ergo sum” – I think, therefor I am. He said this, because he didn’t know weather he knew if he existed or not. Descartes thought like this: I know that I’m dreaming, but I don’t know if it’s reality or dream, I doubt. But because I doubt, I think, and if I am thinking, I am a human, thinking, being, and therefor – I exist – “Cogito, ergo sum”.
Berkeley Essay Research Paper In the
Berkeley Essay, Research Paper In the “Principles of Human Knowledge,” George Berkeley argues that material objects are nothing more than images within the mind. This idealism suggests that no physical non-thinking entities are real. The only reality of the objects is the image within the mind of the perceiver of the objects.
Philosophy Truth Essay Research Paper Truth That
Philosophy: Truth Essay, Research Paper Truth! That is a word that philosophers have been arguing about for a good while! Truth is a state of mind free of error, a state of mind, which is an accurate reflection of things in existence, of the things about you. Truth is unchangeable; it is ageless and constant.
Anselm
’s Ontological Argument Essay, Research Paper As a theologian and philosopher, Saint Anselm strove to prove the existence of God in reality. The bulk of his argument is found in Chapter II of Proslogium.
The Problem Of Evil Essay Research Paper
The Problem of Evil Evil exists, a plain and simple fact. The argument for the problem of evil (and suffering) proves that fact. The argument for the problem of evil
WhatS My Purpose Of Human Existence Essay
, Research Paper Have you ever wondered why we, humans, exist? Who is our creator? How did we get here? Well, as for me, these questions pop into my mind especially right before I go to sleep. These questions have been on my mind since I was about five years old till present time. Perhaps one day, I?ll get me questions answered.
None Essay Research Paper n the discourse
None Essay, Research Paper n the discourse between Plato and Parmenides, Parmenides tell Plato that f Forms do not exist then philosophers wont be able to fix their thoughts on anything: because they won t be able to describe or assign any particular characteristic to anything and wont be able to communicate with each other.
God Essay Research Paper I think this
God Essay, Research Paper I think this is all valid because Saint Thomas Aquinas is saying that God has to exist sometime in life to make the Earth and nature and so forth. If their were to be a infinity then there would be no first or last causes to have happened. There would be no first or last causes to have happened.
Grendel Essay Research Paper We
Grendel Essay, Research Paper We’re back to the question of the tree in the forest… Does it make a sound if no one is around to hear it? I don’t know, I wasn’t there. Would Beowulf and the Dragon have existed if Grendel had never met them? Yes and no, in a sense. The monistic theory would hold that they would have. But of course! Just because I don’t know a Bob Johnson, doesn’t mean that he does not exist.
Does America Still Exist Essay Research Paper
Does America Still Exist? Does America still exist? The author Richard Rodriguez believes that this question should be answered with urgency now. America is the country that is supposed to be the free, fun, brave and powerful. This country is so depressing to me because America is none of the following. The United States of America leads all countries in the world in death rate, teenage childbirth, drug and substance abuse, and violence.
The Ontoligical Argument Essay Research Paper Many
The Ontoligical Argument Essay, Research Paper Many people have tried to prove through many ways that God exists. Anselm used the ontological argument, proposing that if God could be thought of and perceived, then God has to exist. At the center of the ontological argument is the idea or concept of existence.
Does Goe Exist Essay Research Paper Does
Does Goe Exist Essay, Research Paper Does God exist? Theology, cosmological, teleological and ontological arguments are all have ways to prove the existence of God. With all of these great arguments how can one
Does God Exist Essay Research Paper Where
Does God Exist? Essay, Research Paper Where is God? The question does God exist is the one that most likely comes up in the minds of people when disaster strikes or tragedy occurs. Why would he let the creation he most dearly loves suffer so greatly? I am going to try to answer this question as difficult as it may seem to some people.
David Hume Essay Research Paper In reading
David Hume Essay, Research Paper In reading the ideas of David Hume, I have came to believe that he was telling us the miracles don?t exist. They are sort of a ?Mission impossible.? We
Does God Exist Essay Research Paper Does
Does God Exist? Essay, Research Paper Does God Exist? St. Thomas Aquinas has written several important works. Some of them are: The Disputed Questions on the Power of God, Exposition of Dionysius on the
D O E S G O
D E X I S T Essay, Research Paper D O E S G O D E X I S T ?St. Thomas Aquinas has written several important works. Some of them are: The Disputed Questions on the Power of God, Exposition of Dionysius on theDivine Names and Disputed Questions on Spiritual Creatures. Most ofAquinas’s works have been written to try to prove the existence of God.
Why Does The Universe Exist Essay Research
Paper Why Does the Universe Exist? Consider that the universe is some sort of toy or form of entertainment for some prime mover, his point, his own entertainment, would be then why the universe exists. The Bible claims that the Christian deity created the universe and placed humans in it that they might be in awe of his power.
Are Science And Religion Compatible Essay Research
Paper The relationship between Science and Religion can be explained from two distinct points of view. Some would argue that scientific explanations are the only means of explaining our existence, while others would argue that religion and the story of creation found in Genesis I and II provide a sufficient account of the worlds conception.
What Is God Who Is God Essay
, Research Paper What is God? Who is God? Why do some people conclude that a God exists? Saint Thomas Aquinas goes from the fact that there must be a first efficient cause to the conclusion that God is that cause. Why must Aquinas make the extraordinary jump from there being a cause, to assuming that this cause must be God? Would it not be just as plausible to make matter the first cause? Matter is the substance that any physical object is composed of.
Argument About The Exist Of God Essay
, Research Paper Argument About The Exist of God The following paper will provide a sound argument in favor of the existence of God. By demonstrating that an Atheist world cannot account for the
Boethius
’ Argument Against Universals Essay, Research Paper Boethius’ Argument Against Universals In the essay From His Second Commentary on Porphyry s Isagoge Boethius discusses
Facts Of Life
: “Existence Is Truth” Essay, Research Paper The Facts of Life “Existence is Truth” Everything we know of is the third dimension, and its properties. Everything is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of smaller particles. All particles are threedimensional because they have the dimension of height, the dimension of width, and the dimension of depth.
Infinity Essay Research Paper It
Infinity Essay, Research Paper It’s a tough question, because the word “infinity” can mean different things in different contexts. In mathematics, whether or not a certain concept exists can depend on the context in which you ask the question. If you want
Philosophy 2
Philosophy – God Question Essay, Research Paper Philosophy as defined by our required text is said to be “the love of wisdom. It is the search for the larger picture, the demand for knowledge.” There are many questions in philosophy, many involving the subject of religion. Does God exist? Should we believe in God? Is belief in God justified? These are just some of the questions attempted to be answered in philosophy.