: Paul Weingartner
: God´s Existence. Can it be Proven? A Logical Commentary on the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas
: Walter de Gruyter GmbH& Co.KG
: 9783110324624
: Metaphysical ResearchISSN
: 1
: CHF 70.90
:
: 20. und 21. Jahrhundert
: English
: 116
: Wasserzeichen
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: PDF
The aim of the book is to show that the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas, i.e. his five arguments to prove the existence of God, are logically correct arguments by the standards of modern Predicate Logic. In the first chapter this is done by commenting on the two preliminary articles preceeding the Five Ways in which Thomas Aquinas points out that on the one hand the existence of God is not self-evident to us and on the other hand, that, similar as in some scientific explanations, the mere existence of a cause for an effect which is evidently known to us can be proved. In the second chapter every argument is translated into the symbolic form of Predicate Logic and its logical validity is shown. Additionally a detailed and critical discussion of the premises of each argument is given.
1. The Five Ways: Preliminary Questions9
1.1 Whether the Existence of God is Self-Evident?12
1.1.1 Text: Thomas Aquinas' Answer12
1.1.2 Commentary on the Answer12
1.1.2.1 Definition of Self-Evident Proposition13
1.1.2.2 Is God Exists Self-Evident to Us?22
1.1.3 Commentary to the Objections25
1.1.3.1 Is the Knowledge of God Naturally Implanted in All?25
1.1.3.2 Is the Existence of Primal Truth Self-Evident?25
1.1.3.3 Thomas Aquinas´ Commentary on the Ontological Argument25
1.2 Whether it Can Be Demonstrated that God Exists?33
1.2.1 Text: Thomas Aquinas' Answer33
1.2.2 Commentary on the Answer33
1.2.2.1 Two Types of Demonstration33
1.2.2.2 The Cause as Necessary Condition for the Effects37
1.2.2.3 From God’s Effects to His Existence41
1.2.2.4 Is it Necessary to Assume a Cause for the World (Universe) which is Outside the World (Universe)?43
1.2.3 Commentary on the Objections53
1.2.3.1 Is the Existence of God an Article of Faith?53
1.2.3.2 Does One Need a Definition of God for Understanding His Existence?54
1.2.3.3 Are God's Effects Proportional for a Demonstration of His Existence?56
2. The Five Ways57
2.1 The First Way57
2.1.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English57
2.1.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text58
2.1.3 Reconstruction59
2.1.4 Commentary60
2.1.4.1 A Problem with Premise 660
2.1.4.2 Different Meanings of60
2.1.4.2 Different Meanings of60
6060
2.1.4.3 Definition of the First Mover62
2.2 The Second Way65
2.2.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English65
2.2.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text66
2.2.3 Reconstruction66
2.2.4 Commentary68
2.2.4.1 Irreflexivity of the Causal Relation68
2.2.4.2 Cause as a Necessary Condition68
2.2.4.3 Transitivity70
2.2.4.4 Definition of the First Cause72
2.2.4.5 Infinite Regress75
2.3 The Third Way79
2.3.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English79
2.3.2 The premises and conclusions of the text80
2.3.3. Reconstruction81
2.3.4 Commentary82
2.3.4.1 The Concept of Necessity Used in the Third Way82
2.3.4.2 The Concept of Necessity in Relation to Time83
2.3.4.3 Aristotle’s view according to Thomas Aquinas86
2.3.4.4 Thomas Aquina´s Premises and Conclusions in the Third Way87
2.4 The Fourth Way91
2.4.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English91
2.4.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text92
2.4.3 Reconstruction92
2.4.4 Commentary93
2.4.4.1 Premise 293
2.4.4.2 The Definition which Connects Perfection with Being (Premise 5. of 2.4.3)96
2.4.4.3 The Most Perfect Thing is the Cause of All Perfection98
2.5 The Fifth Way99
2.5.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English99
2.5.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text99
2.5.3 Reconstruction100
2.5.4 Commentary101
2.5.4.1 Natural Beings Lacking Intelligence101
2.5.4.2 The Question of the Validity of the Argument102
2.6 The Question of the Uniqueness in the Conclusions of the Five Ways105
2.6.1 First Question105
2.6.2 Second Question107
2.7 Commentary to the Objections111
References113