Cosmological arguments from causation

Question 1

Q: From whose theory are Aquinas’ first two ways developed?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 1

A: Aristotle’s theory of efficient causation.

Question 2

Q: What does Aristotle’s theory of efficient causation attempt to explain?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 2

A: The change we observe.

Question 3

Q: According to Aristotle, what does change require?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 3

A: A prime mover which sustains the motion and causation we experience.

Question 4

Q: What is efficient causation?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 4

A: The concept of sustaining causes, those which bring about their effect continuously.

Question 5

Q: What happens if a sustaining cause ceases to exist?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 5

A: Its effect would also cease to exist.

Question 6

Q: Give an example of efficient causation.

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 6

A: The gravity of the earth causes the moon to be in orbit, which in turn causes the sea tides to rise and fall on earth.

Question 7

Q: What is the focus of Aquinas’ first way?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 7

A: The argument from motion, which states that everything in motion must be put in motion by something else.

Question 8

Q: What is the focus of Aquinas’ second way?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 8

A: The argument from causation, which states that every effect has a cause, and there cannot be an infinite regress of causes.

Question 9

Q: How does Aquinas use the concept of a prime mover in his first way?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 9

A: He argues that there must be a first unmoved mover (God) who initiates all motion.

Question 10

Q: How does Aquinas use the concept of a first cause in his second way?

Aquinas’ first and second ways

Answer 10

A: He argues that there must be a first uncaused cause (God) who initiates all causation.

Question 11

Q: What is the first premise (P1) of Aquinas’ first way?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 11

A: We observe that there are things in motion.

Question 12

Q: How does Aquinas define motion in the second premise (P2)?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 12

A: Motion is the actualization of a thing’s potential to be in motion.

Question 13

Q: What does the third premise (P3) state about motion?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 13

A: A thing can only come to be in motion by being moved.

Question 14

Q: According to the fourth premise (P4), what must a mover be?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 14

Q: According to the fourth premise (P4), what must a mover be?

Question 15

Q: What does the fifth premise (P5) say about self-movement?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 15

A: A thing cannot move itself.

Question 16

Q: What conclusion (C1) does Aquinas draw from premises P1 to P5?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 16

A: All things in motion must have been moved by a mover, which was also moved by another mover.

Question 17

Q: Why does Aquinas reject an infinite regress of movers in the sixth premise (P6)?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 17

A: There cannot be an infinite regress of movers, otherwise there would be no first mover and then no motion.

Question 18

Q: What final conclusion (C2) does Aquinas reach?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 18

A: Therefore, there must be a first mover which must itself be unmoved (as it is pure actuality). That thing we call God.

Question 19

Q: Why is a thing that is purely actual with no potential significant in Aquinas’ argument?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 19

A: It cannot change and is an unmoved mover or uncaused causer.

Question 20

Q: How does change relate to potential and actual in Aquinas’ argument?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 20

A: Change requires going from potential to actual, which depends on something that is actual and cannot depend merely on other potential things.

Question 21

Q: What is meant by “pure actuality” in Aquinas’ first way?

Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)

Answer 21

A: Pure actuality refers to a being that has no potential and is fully actualized, meaning it cannot change and is the unmoved mover.

Question 22

Q: What is the first premise (P1) of Aquinas’ second way?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 22

A: We observe efficient causation.

Question 23

Q: According to the second premise (P2), what is impossible in terms of causation?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 23

A: Nothing can cause itself.

Question 24

Q: What does the third premise (P3) state about the order of sustaining causes?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 24

A: There is a logical order to sustaining causes: the first cause, then intermediate causes, then an ultimate effect.

Question 25

Q: How does the fourth premise (P4) describe the dependency between causes?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 25

A: If A is the efficient cause of B, then if A doesn’t exist neither does B.

Question 26

Q: What conclusion (C1) does Aquinas draw from premises P1 to P4?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 26

A: There must be a first sustaining cause, otherwise P1 would be false as there would be no further sustaining causes or effects.

Question 27

Q: Why does Aquinas reject an infinite regress of causes in the second conclusion (C2)?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 27

A: As there is a first cause, there cannot be an infinite regress of causes.

Question 28

Q: What final conclusion (C3) does Aquinas reach in his second way?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 28

A: The first cause must itself be uncaused. That thing we call God.

Question 29

Q: How does Aquinas treat the relationship between cause and effect in his first two ways?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 29

A: The relationship between cause and effect is treated as ontologically real but not temporal, pointing to the logical implications of there being sustaining causes.

Question 30

Q: What is meant by “atemporal causation” in Aquinas’ second way?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 30

A: Atemporal causation refers to the idea that the relationship between cause and effect is not bound by time but is logically necessary for the existence of sustaining causes.

Question 31

Q: How does the term “first” in “first cause” or “first mover” differ in meaning from a temporal sequence?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 31

A: The term “first” in “first cause” or “first mover” indicates being ontologically first, meaning that all motion and causation are ontologically dependent on it, rather than it being first in time.

Question 32

Q: Why is the second way called a cosmological argument from ‘atemporal causation’?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 32

A: It is called a cosmological argument from ‘atemporal causation’ because it focuses on the logical necessity of a first cause that is not bound by time but is required for the existence of sustaining causes.

Question 33

Q: What is the significance of the first cause being uncaused in Aquinas’ second way?

Aquinas’ 2nd way (atemporal causation)

Answer 33

A: The first cause being uncaused signifies that it is a necessary being that does not rely on any prior cause, thus serving as the ultimate foundation for all causation and existence.