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A 5 page essay/research paper that critically analyzes Thomas Aquinas' fourth proof of the existence of God. The writer presents this proof and then argues that Aquinas' argument is weak. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khta4p.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
the Summa theologiae, which is also referred to as the Summa theologica. In this text is Aquinas endeavors to rationalize the philosophy of ancient Greece, principally the works of Aristotle,
with traditional Christian theology (Muller, 1992). Also in this text, Aquinas argues that while the existence of God is not self-evident, it is demonstrable (Muller, 1992). In substantiation
of this assertion, Aquinas offers five famous, interrelated "proofs" of Gods existence. Aquinas fourth proof relies on Aquinas observations of comparisons. The following examination of Aquinas fourth proof will analyze
Aquinas argument and, in so doing, demonstrate that this particular "proof" of Gods existence is weak. Aquinas fourth proof is drawn more from the philosophy of Augustine than from
Aristotle (Muller, 1992). It is predicated on the observation that there are degrees of perfection or goodness in the world. Aquinas writes, "The fourth proof arises from the degrees that
are found in things. For there is found a greater and a less degree of goodness, truth, nobility and the like" (1998). From this observation, Aquinas argues that notions of
"good" and "better" imply that there has to be a "best" or "more perfect" being (Muller, 1992). Aquinas put it this way: "...more or less are terms spoken of
various things as they approach in diverse ways toward something that is the greatest, just as in the case of hotter (more hot) which approaches nearer the greatest heat" (1998).
He goes on to say that something exists that is the "truest, and best, and most noble, and in consequence, the greatest being" (Aquinas, 1998). To substantiate his reasoning,
Aquinas then points toward the second book of Aristotles Metaphysics (1998). Having established that a superlative being exists, Aquinas then argues that whatever is greatest is also the progenitor of
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