In the article, “Whether God Exists,” Saint Thomas Aquinas addresses the issue of the existence of God, or lack thereof. He proves the existence of God in five ways.

Aquinas’ first way of proving the existence of God is the argument from motion. In this argument he points out that everything in motion, (motion meaning “the reduction of something from a state of potentiality into a state of actuality”), cannot move itself. It only has the potentiality of being moved by something else already in motion. “If that by which is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must need to be put in motion by another, and that by another again.” However, this regress cannot be infinite because if it were, there would be no first mover. A first mover is essential in this process for the simple fact that if there were none, nothing would be moved, and therefore nothing would exist. This first mover, Aquinas says, is what everyone understands to be God.

The second and third ways Aquinas proves the existence of God are quite similar. The second way supposes, “In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causation.” This order makes it impossible f

Although he has used the fallacy of begging the question, Aquinas has nevertheless given me substantial reason to believe there is a traditional God, a First Mover, a First Cause. I can test his theory and, more or less, come to the same conclusion that each cause I make has an effect. If I were to pick up a pen and write with it, I, with no question in my mind, can safely say that I am the cause of the pen moving. Hence, I have just proved the law of cause and effect. I can also safely say that no other force than myself and my own free will is making me move the pen, proving that there can ultimately be a first mover; one who is unmoved.

He also affirms the law of cause and effect in his argument, showing that each event is an effect of some cause. If this is true, then it is also true that this is a cycle in which everything is created. However, this regress of causes and effects cannot be infinite because that which moves must be moved by one thing, and if this were to go on forever, there wouldn’t be any first cause. This first cause is imperative to start the cycle of causes and effects, which have created our world.

The second objection to his philosophy is one that states that all natural things can be reduced to the principle of nature, and all things that happen intentionally can be reduced to the principle of human will, or reason. Given that these are the answers to which most people would turn to God for, to serve as an explanation for the ways of the world, this would give just cause to believe there is no God. Still, Aquinas replies to this objection by retreating back to his second way of proving God. He states, “Whatever is done by nature must needs be traced back to God, as to its first cause.” So, although every entity of nature can be reduced to the principle of nature, nature itself is caused by, and also has caused necessity by, the first cause, or God.

I feel Aquinas brought up some very validating arguments in his article. He uses empirical premises to support his theory. He uses paradigms for each argument in order to prove his philosophy. For instance, t

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