St. Thomas Aquinas' Third Way Modalized

3583 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay about aquinas 3rd way

Aquinas' Third Way Modalized

ABSTRACT: The Third Way is the most interesting and insightful of Aquinas' five arguments for the existence of God, even though it is invalid and has some false premises. With the help of a somewhat weak modal logic, however, the Third Way can be transformed into a argument which is certainly valid and plausibly sound. Much of what Aquinas asserted in the Third Way is possibly true even if it is not actually true. Instead of assuming, for example, that things which are contingent fail to exist at some time, we need only assume that contingent things possibly fail to exist at some time. Likewise, we can replace the assumption that if all things fail to exist at some time then there is a time when nothing exists, with the corresponding assumption that if all things possibly fail to exist at some time then possibly there is a time when nothing exists. These and other similar replacements suffice to produce a cogent cosmological argument.

Aquinas' Third Way is a cosmological argument for the existence of God which "is taken from possibility and necessity." It is surprising therefore that philosophers of religion have not shown much interest in applying modal logic to its analysis. (1) There are a couple of reasons. First, Aquinas does not always use the words 'possibility' and 'necessity' in the same way that they are used in modal logic. Second, cosmological arguments generally purport to build a bridge between some property of this world and a supreme being, making it unnecessary, it might be thought, to appeal to modalized features of other possible worlds.

Modal logic has of course been applied extensively to the analysis of ontological arguments. Ontological arguments purport to build a logical bridge between thought and a supreme being. Most ontological arguments proceed from the assumption that it is possible for God to exist. They then link this assumption with some rather "strong" and controversial principles of modal logic in order to prove that God must exist in all possible worlds, from which it follows that God exists in the real world. (2) It might be possible, however, to prove the existence of God with the use of a weak and noncontroversial system of modal logic if we root the proof with some plausible possibilistic principles about what might be true of the cosmos.

The Third Way is not sound per se.

Show More
Related

  • Unethical Unloading of Stirling Bride Tools

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... exhibited ethical decision making and the utilitarian approach when they addressed the safety issues of the Braveheart power tools. They enhanced safety features, improved product instructions and highlighted product warning information; however, when they chose to sale the recalled power tools overseas and made a conscious moral decision not to fully disclose the potential hazards to the buyer, they displayed a lack of integrity and violated their moral duty and potentially caused a threat to the health and well-being of the overseas consumer.

    Read More

  • Aquinas versus Anselm

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Examining the two works against each other as if it were a debate makes it a bit clearer to compare. Aquinas, reveals his argument under the groundwork that there are essentially two methods of understanding the truth. One being that it can be surmised through reason an logic, and the other being via inner faith. On the surface at this point it could be argued that this ontological determination a bit less convoluted than Anselm, yet I tend to think it could be a bit more confusing. This is what leads him to the claim that the existence of God can be proven by reason alone or “a priori”. Stemming from this belief he formulated his Five Proofs or what he called the “Quinquae Viae”. The first of which is fairly simple based on the fact that something in motion had to have been moved. Agreeing that something set it in motion therefor there must have been a...

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Ag-Gag Laws

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every year worldwide, over seventy billion animals are killed for food in factories without the inclusion aquatic animals (“Factory Farms Overview¨). The animal rights movement began in Europe during the nineteenth century to protect horses, dogs and cats (Recarte 1). However, now modern animal rights groups have switched their focus to factory farms, test animals and the removal of ag-gag laws. The fight to create less painful and stressful environments in factories and the altogether removal of animal testing and ag-gag laws has been taken on by animal rights groups like ASPCA (“Factory Farms”). The biggest issue currently facing animals is factory farming.

    Read More

  • A Philoshpical Approach to Proving the Existence of God

    4011 Words  | 9 Pages

    The question of God’s existence has been debated through the history of man, with every philosopher from Socrates to Immanuel Kant weighing in on the debate. So great has this topic become that numerous proofs have been invented and utilized to prove or disprove God’s existence. Yet no answer still has been reached, leaving me to wonder if any answer at all is possible. So I will try in this paper to see if it is possible to philosophically prove God’s existence.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Aztec And Inca Civilization

    465 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Aztec Empire stood for many years but never expanded much, only conquering small neighboring civilizations. The Aztec Empire was founded in the 6th century and didn’t fall until 1525. The Inca Civilization was a bit different. The Inca Civilization conquered as many lands that it could but quickly fell after just 100 years. In this essay I will be comparing the government, economics, and culture in the Aztec Civilizationand the Inca Empire.

    Read More

  • Gee Whiz Mark 2 Case Study

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethical dilemmas have long been issues that have plagued all of mankind for generations. Since the beginning, the majority of humanity has struggled to do what is right when the answer wasn’t clear. Sometimes, however, the answer is not as difficult to realize, but is much more difficult to accept. In the case of the Gee-Whiz Mark 2 (GWM2), the dilemma that faces its respective company is whether or not the units that are defective should be exported to countries that have no enforceable rules to punish the marketing of said defective units. If the company does not do so and instead decides to scrap the units, there will be a loss of profit. For the company though, the answer is clear; though it may be challenging for its leaders to accept,

    Read More

  • Ethnic Nationalism Essay

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    One reason why nationalism is harmful is that it encourages simplistic thinking. In Notes on Nationalism, George Orwell called nationalism “the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled ‘good’ or ‘bad’” (1). As Orwell said, nationalism puts things in black and white terms of “good” and “bad.” One’s own nation, or way of life in general, is viewed as the “good,” while anything different is viewed as “bad.” This is a leading cause of discrimination and bigotry, as will be discussed later, and is therefore harmful to a world consisting largely of diverse religions, races, ethnicities, beliefs, and

    Read More

  • Aquinas' Arguments for the Existence of God

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    Secondly, the first and second arguments are invalid because the way the Big Bang happened and the universe was created was left to a good deal of chance and it would have been illogical for God to have created it that way. If God did create it in this form then it would be contradictory to Aquinas' idea of a completely rational, benevolent, and omnipotent God. Aquinas' third argument is unsound because he states that not every entity can fail to exist, but during singularity all of the matter in the universe is suspended in one lawless and unlocatable point. The lack of governing laws and any way to tell where that point would have been is proof that it may not have existed. The scientific proof of the beginning of the universe renders Aquinas' first three arguments from Summa Theologica unsound.

    Read More

  • Understanding Universe's Infinity through Aquinas' Summa Theologica

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Aquinas Selections from, “Summa Theologica” he wants us to understand that the nature of the universe is infinite. He talks about how there are different meaning to words that can be used to describe things. In the Selections from Summa Theologica it says, “whose power is to signify his meaning, not by words only (as man also can do), but also by things themselves.” Aquinas is trying to explain that the universe offers us multiple ways on putting meanings to words. I understood that the universe allows us to have different words that can have different meanings to them.

    Read More

  • Nationalism and Democracy

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nationalism has played a crucial role in world history over the past centuries. It continues to do so today. For many, nationalism is indelibly associated with some of the worst aspects of modern history, such as the destructive confidence of the Napoleon’s army and the murderous pride of Nazi Germany. Large numbers of people, descent in their hearts, have carried out unbelievable atrocities for no better reason than their nation required them to. Authoritarian and totalitarian regime have crushed dissent, eliminated opposition, and trampled on civil liberties in the name of the nation.

    Read More

  • A Philosophical Criticism of Augustine and Aquinas

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    A Philosophical Criticism of Augustine and Aquinas: The Relationship of Soul and Body The relationship of the human soul and physical body is a topic that has mystified philosophers, scholars, scientists, and mankind as a whole for centuries. Human beings, who are always concerned about their place as individuals in this world, have attempted to determine the precise nature or state of the physical form. They are concerned for their well-being in this earthly environment, as well as their spiritual well-being; and most have been perturbed by the suggestion that they cannot escape the wrongs they have committed while in their physical bodies.

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Diets: The Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet

    1198 Words  | 3 Pages

    Society has recently become increasingly obsessed with health and nutrition, as more and more individuals realize that they can dramatically change their quality of life by adjusting their diet and lifestyle. One way that people have tried to pursue a healthier lifestyle, is by removing meat and other animal products from their diets, whether they become a strict vegetarian who eats no animal byproducts, or a lacto-ovo vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy. As with any other lifestyle, research is always being done to see if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and so far, the results of vegetarian diets have been encouraging. Vegetarian diets have proven to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and many other health problems. With a little planning and dedication, a vegetarian diet will be healthier and more beneficial than a traditional diet

    Read More

  • St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God

    5036 Words  | 11 Pages

    existence to those who could not accept or believe God on faith alone. Aquinas’ first way

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Key to a Health-Conscious, Ecological America

    1885 Words  | 4 Pages

    Vegetarianism is associated with varying degrees of diet choices, yet they all conjoin on the same basic principle: that is, to abstain from meat. For some vegetarians, known as vegans, animal products such as dairy and eggs are prohibited as well. Pescetarians allow for consumption of fish and seafood. The level of diversity for available options is exceptional, yet the practice is still greatly underappreciated by the general public. A recent survey conducted at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA found that 78% of the respondents have not ever considered a vegetarian lifestyle a strong contender to diminish the current health epidemics at hand. It is unsurprising, given the amount of ambiguous information generally available for public intake.

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Diet: Health Benefits of Vegetarianism

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    It must be noted that simply changing to a meatless diet will not necessarily create a healthier, happier lifestyle. A vegetarian diet still has unhealthy components that must be avoi...

    Read More

More about St. Thomas Aquinas' Third Way Modalized

Open Document