Saint Thomas Aquinas ( ) What is the proper relation between faith and reason? What is the distinction between philosophy and theology? What is Aquinian metaphysics? (ontology)

Life and Times Born northern Italy (Naples) of a noble family. Joined Dominican order against family’s wishes Aristotelian revival underway, causing much controversy. Canonized 1323: justifying miracles? Resisting the temptation of a prostitute discovery of Herring at night Extensive corpus of scholarship perhaps the greater miracle

Challenge of Reason Works of Aristotle recently available in West Often accompanied with heretical yet persuasive commentaries by non-Christian thinkers (Averroes) Non-believers reasoning well and coming to conclusions that conflicted Christian teachings Soul not immortal; universe not created

Adopting Aristotle’s Method of Reasoning (Epistemology) Acknowledged Aristotle was getting at partial truth (troubling and dangerous) Thought reason could arrive at revelation Law of the Excluded Middle? Essential for any claims to rationality (Philosophy) Nothing between an assertion or denial of any premises/propositions Premise: set forth beforehand; an explanation; taking something as preexisting and given

The Triumph of Thomas Aquinas How did Thomas distinguish b/t philosophy and Theology? Difference found in starting points: Philosophy? Premise open to all through reason Theology? Premise open to those held to be true on basis of faith

Aquinas’ Pyramid of Human Wisdom Theology Philosophy Ethics/Political Science

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion 2 Efficient Cause 3 Possibility and Necessity or Being/ Non-Being 4 Gradation in Things 5 Governance of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion -A thing cannot be both mover and moved -Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by another 2 Efficient Cause 3 Possibility and Necessity or Being/ Non-Being 4 Gradation in Things 5 Governance of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion -A thing cannot be both mover and moved -Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by another There is a First Mover put in motion by no other. This we call God 2 Efficient Cause 3 Possibility and Necessity or Being/ Non-Being 4 Gradation in Things 5 Governance of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion -A thing cannot be both mover and moved -Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by another There is a First Mover put in motion by no other. This we call God 2 Efficient Cause -There is an order of efficient causes -Is no case in nature where a thing is the efficient cause of itself -To take away such a cause is to take away the effect (a thing) 3 Possibility and Necessity or Being/ Non-Being 4 Gradation in Things 5 Governance of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion -A thing cannot be both mover and moved -Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by another There is a First Mover put in motion by no other. This we call God 2 Efficient Cause -There is an order of efficient causes -Is no case in nature where a thing is the efficient cause of itself -To take away such a cause is to take away the effect (a thing) -If there is no First cause, there are no intermediate or ultimate causes (impossible) -There therefore must be a first efficient cause (God) 3 Possibility and Necessity or Being/ Non-Being 4 Gradation in Things 5 Governance of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 3 Possibili ty and Necessit y -Things can be and not be -all things are generated, become corrupted (age), and cease to be (die) -Impossible for things to always exist -Therefore, if it is possible for all things not to exist, possible for nothing to exist -If so, nothing would exist -Something must exist responsible for the creation of all other things (Be their necessity) -We must postulate the existence of some Being possessing its own necessity, not received from another and causing the necessity of all other things (God) 4 Gradatio n in Things 5 Governanc e of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 3 Possibili ty and Necessit y -Things can be and not be -all things are generated, become corrupted (age), and cease to be (die) -Impossible for things to always exist -Therefore, if it is possible for all things not to exist, possible for nothing to exist -If so, nothing would exist -Something must exist responsible for the creation of all other things (Be their necessity) -We must postulate the existence of some Being possessing its own necessity, not received from another and causing the necessity of all other things (God) 4 Gradatio n in Things -In nature are things with greater and lesser degrees of goodness, truth, etc. -This more or less are predicated on how much they resemble a maximum -This maximum is the cause of all in that genus -There must therefore be Something which causes the goodness, truthfulness, of all things (God) 5 Governanc e of the World

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 5 Govern ance of the World -Things lacking intelligence act for an end Evident from their acting always (nearly) in the same way to obtain best results -Whatever lacks intelligence cannot reach its end unless directed by some Intelligence (God)

Aquinas’ Demonstrations of God’s Existence TitlePremiseConclusion 1 Motion-A thing cannot be both mover and moved -Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by another There is a First Mover put in motion by no other. This we call God 2 Efficien t Cause -There is an order of efficient causes -Is no case in nature where a thing is the efficient cause of itself -To take away such a cause is to take away the effect (a thing) -If there is no First cause, there are no intermediate or ultimate causes (impossible) -There therefore must be a first efficient cause (God) 3 Possibili ty and Necessit y or Being/ Non- Being -Things can be and not be -all things are generated, become corrupted (age), and cease to be (die) -Impossible for things to always exist -Therefore, if it is possible for all things not to exist, possible for nothing to exist -If so, nothing would exist -Something must exist responsible for the creation of all other things (Be their necessity) -We must postulate the existence of some Being possessing its own necessity, not received from another and causing the necessity of all other things (God) 4 Gradati on in Things -In nature are things with greater and lesser degrees of goodness, truth, etc. -This more or less are predicated on how much they resemble a maximum -This maximum is the cause of all in that genus -There must therefore be Something which causes the goodness, truthfulness, of all things (God) 5 Govern ance of the World -Things lacking intelligence act for an end Evident from their acting always (nearly) in the same way to obtain best results -Whatever lacks intelligence cannot reach its end unless directed by some Intelligence (God)

Do Now Exchange reflections with a partner Using First Stage of Adler’s How to Read a Book, read and take quick notes on partner’s reflection Be prepared to present to class

Quotes: Thomas Aquinas “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” “Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.” Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good....” Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches” Reason in man is rather like God in the world”

Intro How does Aquinas view the relationship between faith and reason? What are we doing here? Not trying to get you to believe in existence of God Want you to understand Aquinas method and apply to your emerging philosophy

Objections and Responses to God’s Existence ObjectionReply 1 Premise 1: If God is infinite Goodness, no evil would exist Premise 2: Evil exists Conclusion: no God 2

Objections and Responses to God’s Existence ObjectionReply 1 Premise 1: If God is infinite Goodness, no evil would exist Premise 2: Evil exists Conclusion: no God Premise : God would not allow evil as part of works unless His infinite Goodness could be brought out of evil Conclusion: Evil allowed to illustrate Infinite Goodness 2

Objections and Responses to God’s Existence ObjectionReply 1 2 Premise 1: Everything in world accountable for by other things Premise 2: All natural things reducible to nature Conclusion: No need for God

Objections and Responses to God’s Existence ObjectionReply 1 2 Premise 1: Everything in world accountable for by other things Premise 2: All natural things reducible to nature Conclusion: No need for God Premise 2: Nature (involuntary) has an end (purpose) Premise 2: All human action (voluntary), while fallible, must trace back to First Cause Conclusion: God exists

Objections and Responses to God’s Existence ObjectionReply 1 Premise: If God, no evil Conclusion: Evil exists, no God Premise : God would not allow evil as part of works unless His infinite Goodness could be brought out of evil Conclusion: Evil allowed to illustrate Infinite Goodness 2 Premise 1: Everything in world accountable for by other things Premise 2: All natural things reducible to nature Conclusion: No need for God Premise 2: Nature (involuntary) has an end (purpose) Premise 2: All human action (voluntary), while fallible, must trace back to First Cause Conclusion: God exists

Thomist Metaphysics (Ontology) First Western philosopher to view knowledge metaphysically (?): knowing as a form of being All things in universe were interconnected since all participated in this being God has Being, we have being: more like B(b)eing