Cosmological arguments from causation Flashcards
Q: From whose theory are Aquinas’ first two ways developed?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: Aristotle’s theory of efficient causation.
Q: What does Aristotle’s theory of efficient causation attempt to explain?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: The change we observe.
Q: According to Aristotle, what does change require?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: A prime mover which sustains the motion and causation we experience.
Q: What is efficient causation?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: The concept of sustaining causes, those which bring about their effect continuously.
Q: What happens if a sustaining cause ceases to exist?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: Its effect would also cease to exist.
Q: Give an example of efficient causation.
Aquinas’ first and second ways
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.
Q: What is the focus of Aquinas’ first way?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: The argument from motion, which states that everything in motion must be put in motion by something else.
Q: What is the focus of Aquinas’ second way?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: The argument from causation, which states that every effect has a cause, and there cannot be an infinite regress of causes.
Q: How does Aquinas use the concept of a prime mover in his first way?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: He argues that there must be a first unmoved mover (God) who initiates all motion.
Q: How does Aquinas use the concept of a first cause in his second way?
Aquinas’ first and second ways
A: He argues that there must be a first uncaused cause (God) who initiates all causation.
Q: What is the first premise (P1) of Aquinas’ first way?
Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)
A: We observe that there are things in motion.
Q: How does Aquinas define motion in the second premise (P2)?
Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)
A: Motion is the actualization of a thing’s potential to be in motion.
Q: What does the third premise (P3) state about motion?
Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)
A: A thing can only come to be in motion by being moved.
Q: According to the fourth premise (P4), what must a mover be?
Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)
Q: According to the fourth premise (P4), what must a mover be?
Q: What does the fifth premise (P5) say about self-movement?
Aquinas’ 1st way (motion)
A: A thing cannot move itself.