Lesson 2 – St. Thomas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God

There are some pretty good reasons to say that St. Thomas’ favorite argument for God’s existence was the first way.

One of those reasons has to do with the way that he describes the first way when he introduces it.

He calls it “manifestior,” a Latin word that means “clearer,” “more obvious,” “more evident”, or “more palpable.”

Course Reading

Summa Theologiae I, q. 2, a. 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Summa Theologiae I, q. 2, a. 3 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Excerpt from Summa Theologiae I, q. 2, a. 3:

[W]hatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.

Course Listening

Does God Exist? Aquinas's Proof of God Based on Motion | Dr. Gloria Frost

Why Believe in God?: Arguments for the Existence of God | Prof. Edward Feser