3 Ways

Question 1

The First Way

Answer 1

Motion:
1. Everything that moves is moved by something else
2. The thing that is moved is moved by something else
3. The chain, however, cannot be infinite
4. Therefore, there must be an unmoved mover
= God

By motion, Aquinas meant any change from one natural state to another.

Question 2

The Second Way

Answer 2

Causation:
1. Everything has a cause
2. The thing that is caused is caused by something else
3. The chain, however cannot be infinite
4. Therefore, there must be an unmoved mover
= God

By cause, Aquinas means cause and effect.

Question 3

The Third Way

Answer 3

Contingency:
- Individual things come into existence and later cease to exist
- Everything is dependant on something else for its existence (everything has contingent existence)
- Therefore, at one time no individual thing was is existence (because there cannot be an infinite regress)
- But if there was nothing, then something cannot come from nothing
- Therefore, there must be a being that always existed (a being with necessary existence)
= God