Thomas Aquinas and the Cosmological Argument

Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century Italian Catholic priest and philosopher, was a massively influential theologian who further developed the cosmological argument. His work built upon Aristotle's ideas and formulated what became known as the "Five Ways" to prove the existence of God.

Key points about Aquinas and the cosmological argument:

1. Aquinas proposed five ways to prove God's existence
2. The first four ways constitute the cosmological argument
3. The fifth way is known as the teleological argument

Definition: The cosmological argument seeks to persuade that the most likely cause of the universe was an all-powerful, all-loving being (God).

Characteristics of the cosmological argument:

• A posteriori: based on experience and observation
• Inductive: argues from particular instances to a general conclusion
• Synthetic: combines different ideas or elements

Highlight: The cosmological argument is persuasive rather than definitive, allowing for the acceptance of premises without necessarily accepting the conclusion.

This approach allows the argument to adapt to new evidence and remain relevant in ongoing philosophical and theological discussions.

The First Way: Motion and Potentiality

Aquinas's first way in the cosmological argument focuses on motion and change in the universe. This argument is rooted in Aristotelian concepts of potentiality, efficient cause, and actuality.

The argument from motion:

1. Everything in the world is moving or changing
2. Nothing can move or change itself
3. There cannot be an infinite regress of things changing other things
4. Therefore, there must be a first changer (prime mover)
5. This prime mover is God

Vocabulary:

• Potentiality: The possibility of something to become something else
• Efficient cause: Something that can change a thing into something else
• Actuality: When a possibility becomes real in the fullest sense

Example: Aristotle used the example of stone (potentiality), a sculptor (efficient cause), and a statue (actuality) to illustrate these concepts.

Example: Aquinas used the example of wood (potentiality), a matchstick (efficient cause), and fire (actuality) to explain the same principles.

These concepts are crucial for understanding how Aquinas argued for the necessity of a prime mover or first cause in the universe.

The Second and Third Ways: Causality and Contingency

Aquinas's second and third ways in the cosmological argument focus on causality and contingency, respectively. These arguments build upon the concepts introduced in the first way and provide additional perspectives on the need for a first cause or necessary being.

Second Way: Causality

The argument from causality states:

1. Everything observable in nature is subject to cause and effect
2. Infinite regression of cause and effect doesn't make sense
3. Something can't cause itself
4. There must be a 'first cause' or an uncaused cause
5. For Aquinas, this first cause is God

Highlight: The concept of an uncaused cause is central to this argument, as it seeks to explain the origin of all causal chains in the universe.

Third Way: Contingency

The argument from contingency is considered one of Aquinas's deepest arguments:

1. Everything contingent depends on something else for its existence or motion
2. There can't be an infinite regress of contingency
3. There must be a non-contingent, necessary being to start the chain of contingency

Vocabulary:

• Contingent being: Dependent on something else for its existence and could have not existed
• Necessary being: Doesn't depend on anything for its existence and cannot not exist

Example: Humans are contingent beings because we depend on our parents for our existence, while God is considered a necessary being in this argument.

The contingency argument also incorporates the concept of time and history, arguing that events in time are contingent upon earlier events, necessitating a starting point for the chain of contingency.

The Kalam Cosmological Argument and Strengths of the Cosmological Argument

Kalam Cosmological Argument

The Kalam Cosmological argument is a variation of the cosmological argument that originated with Islamic scholars in the 9th-11th centuries and has been revived in modern times by William Craig.

Key points of the Kalam argument:

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence
2. The universe has a beginning
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause
4. That cause is God

Highlight: The Kalam argument distinguishes between potential infinity and actual infinity, arguing that actual infinities cannot exist in reality.

Vocabulary:

• Potential infinity: Never complete, conceptually infinite but could never actually exist
• Actual infinity: Completed and definite, considered impossible in reality

Strengths of the Cosmological Argument

The cosmological argument has several strengths that contribute to its enduring influence in philosophical and theological discussions:

1. Based on experience and observation: The argument is grounded in everyday experiences of cause and effect, making it relatable and understandable.

2. Scientific support: The Big Bang theory provides some scientific support for the idea of a universe with a beginning, aligning with the argument's premises.

3. Logical structure: The argument follows a logical progression from observable phenomena to the conclusion of a first cause or necessary being.

4. Adaptability: As an a posteriori argument, it can incorporate new evidence and adapt to changing scientific understanding.

5. Explanatory power: It attempts to provide an ultimate explanation for the existence of the universe, addressing fundamental questions of existence.

Example: The Big Bang theory's support for the cosmological argument demonstrates how scientific discoveries can lend credence to philosophical arguments about the origin of the universe.

These strengths have contributed to the cosmological argument's lasting impact on philosophical and theological discussions about the existence of God and the nature of the universe.

Aristotle and the Origins of the Cosmological Argument

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and student of Plato, laid the groundwork for the cosmological argument. His ideas were highly influential throughout the Middle Ages and continue to shape philosophical and theological discussions today.

Aristotle's key contributions to the cosmological argument include:

1. The need for an explanation of the universe's existence
2. The principle that nothing can come from nothing
3. The rejection of infinite regression of causes
4. The concept of a "first cause" and "first mover"

Highlight: Aristotle concluded that there must be a "first cause" and a "first mover" to explain the existence and motion of the universe.

These ideas formed the foundation for later philosophers, particularly Thomas Aquinas, to develop more comprehensive versions of the cosmological argument.

Example: Aristotle's reasoning can be summarized as: Since something exists, and nothing can come from nothing, there must have been a first cause that brought everything into existence.