God´s Existence. Can it be Proven? (eBook)

A Logical Commentary on the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas

Paul Weingartner (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2010
116 Seiten
De Gruyter (Verlag)
978-3-11-032462-4 (ISBN)

Infos

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.

Inhalt

1. The Five Ways: Preliminary Questions 9
1.1 Whether the Existence of God is Self-Evident? 12
1.1.1 Text: Thomas Aquinas' Answer 12
1.1.2 Commentary on the Answer 12
1.1.2.1 Definition of Self-Evident Proposition 13
1.1.2.2 Is God Exists Self-Evident to Us? 22
1.1.3 Commentary to the Objections 25
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 Argument 25
1.2 Whether it Can Be Demonstrated that God Exists? 33
1.2.1 Text: Thomas Aquinas' Answer 33
1.2.2 Commentary on the Answer 33
1.2.2.1 Two Types of Demonstration 33
1.2.2.2 The Cause as Necessary Condition for the Effects 37
1.2.2.3 From God’s Effects to His Existence 41
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 Objections 53
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 Ways 57
2.1 The First Way 57
2.1.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English 57
2.1.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text 58
2.1.3 Reconstruction 59
2.1.4 Commentary 60
2.1.4.1 A Problem with Premise 6 60
2.1.4.2 Different Meanings of "Movetur" 60
2.1.4.3 Definition of the First Mover 62
2.2 The Second Way 65
2.2.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English 65
2.2.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text 66
2.2.3 Reconstruction 66
2.2.4 Commentary 68
2.2.4.1 Irreflexivity of the Causal Relation 68
2.2.4.2 Cause as a Necessary Condition 68
2.2.4.3 Transitivity 70
2.2.4.4 Definition of the First Cause 72
2.2.4.5 Infinite Regress 75
2.3 The Third Way 79
2.3.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English 79
2.3.2 The premises and conclusions of the text 80
2.3.3. Reconstruction 81
2.3.4 Commentary 82
2.3.4.1 The Concept of Necessity Used in the Third Way 82
2.3.4.2 The Concept of Necessity in Relation to Time 83
2.3.4.3 Aristotle’s view according to Thomas Aquinas 86
2.3.4.4 Thomas Aquina´s Premises and Conclusions in the Third Way 87
2.4 The Fourth Way 91
2.4.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English 91
2.4.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text 92
2.4.3 Reconstruction 92
2.4.4 Commentary 93
2.4.4.1 Premise 2 93
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 Perfection 98
2.5 The Fifth Way 99
2.5.1 The Latin Text and its Translation into English 99
2.5.2 The Premises and Conclusions of the Text 99
2.5.3 Reconstruction 100
2.5.4 Commentary 101
2.5.4.1 Natural Beings Lacking Intelligence 101
2.5.4.2 The Question of the Validity of the Argument 102
2.6 The Question of the Uniqueness in the Conclusions of the Five Ways 105
2.6.1 First Question 105
2.6.2 Second Question 107
2.7 Commentary to the Objections 111
References 113

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 2.5.2013
• Reihe/Serie: ISSN
• Reihe/Serie: ISSN
• Reihe/Serie: Metaphysical Research
• Reihe/Serie: Metaphysical Research
• Verlagsort: Berlin/Boston
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Geschichte der Philosophie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Metaphysik / Ontologie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Philosophie der Neuzeit
• ISBN-10: 3-11-032462-8 / 3110324628
• ISBN-13: 978-3-11-032462-4 / 9783110324624