Aquinas: The Existence of God

Question 1

What is Aquinas known for in philosophy?

Answer 1

Making arguments for the existence of God and natural law

Question 2

What were Aquinas’ most famous writings?

Answer 2

Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologia

Question 3

Disputatio form

Answer 3

Responding to a question by listing objections and responding to them.

Question 4

Anselm’s Ontological Argument

Answer 4

God is the greatest thing that can be conceived
Existence is greater than non-existence
Therefore, God must exist, since the God who actually exists is greater than a non-existing God.

Question 5

How did Aquinas refute Anselm?

Answer 5

Existence has to be experienced, it can’t be inferred.

Question 6

How does the efficient cause prove the existence of God?

Answer 6

There cannot be an infinite series of causes