1. Arguments for The Existence of God St. Thomas Aquinas’ 5 Proofs

2. Read!! Sproule pages 429-430 Velasquez: pages 280 to 290 (proofs in general) Aquinas: pages 328 to 334 Descartes: pages 334 to 338

3. Thomas Aquinas The Greatest philosopher/theologian of the Middle Ages Proofs based on world around us + Aristotle’s principles about causal factors 1 st two proofs, cosmological / causal argument(s)

4. First Two Proofs 1.Based on motion 2.Based on efficient causation All things are moved (or caused) by another mover (or cause). Consider: two possibilities: 1.Movers / causes extend infinitely into the past. 2.There is an original mover / cause.

5. If there is an infinite regression of movers / causes There would be nothing moving (or being caused) today Since things are moving/being caused now, we need movers/ causes Ergo: there needs to be a 1 st mover / cause

6. Proof 3 Similar notion of impossibility of infinite regression Sproule’s emphasis: impermanence o Impermanent things receive their existence from something previously in existence o 2 options: 1.Nothing existing 2.Something always existing is the necessary source of all things

7. 4 th & 5 th Proofs Teleological, arguments from design 4 th proof: degrees of perfection, God the most perfect 5 th proof: things in the world appear to exist for a purpose, Goal (telos) God is the supreme intelligent being.