SparkNotes PLUS Despite these criticisms, St. Thomas Aquinas philosophy has withstood time and continues to play a significant role in the development of both the Church and modern theology. The Summa Theologica is a famous work written by Saint Thomas Aquinas between AD 1265 and 1274. Malodorous scents and other bad things are examples of a lack of goodness caused by a lack of being. What Is Subliminal Priming And How Does It Interact With Precognition. If every being were possible, therefore, then there would be a time at which nothing existed. Thomas Aquinas' famous work called the Summa Theologiae has three main parts. Moreover, because it is the cause of all perfections and order in the universe and because evil is an absence of good, this cause must be omniscient, personal, and omnibenevolent, since it has no deficiency in its existence. They are "Feser's" proofs in the sense that he is not trying to expound any other thinker. What Would Happen If The Earth Stopped Spinning. My objective in this paper is to state and explain St Aquinas's five ways on proving the existence of God. [6][13], As in the First Way, the causes Aquinas has in mind are not sequential events, but rather simultaneously existing dependency relationships: Aristotle's efficient cause. (one code per order). There must therefore exist a supreme perfection that all imperfect beings approach yet fall short of. This proof explains that our senses prove that things are in motion, and that an actual movement can create a potential movement into an actual movement. Dont have an account? by still another object preceding it, and so forth. )[8], An accidental series of causes is one in which the earlier causes need no longer exist in order for the series to continue. [9], His thinking here relies on what would later be labelled "essentially ordered causal series" by John Duns Scotus. hXmS6+dY~a& $69u>8s_n:ddVjZ=Hnfm\NC"%cMALF .04 sAm[8$E=4eY1] @c~B04jDm}`?qP)?=L(IH,4%Pt(}>r?W:3(g:$qxPW+|PjRiVix2}~s|| Perhaps we would do better to call it a scientific understanding of the fact known. Some ancient Greek philosophers, such as Parmenides, claimed change was an illusion because something either exists or it doesnt exist. ". The most frequently used of these in the modern world is closely related to the second argument, causality, and is usually simply referred to as the cosmological argument. %PDF-1.5 % Download PDF. A listing of Saint Thomas Aquinas' five proofs for the existence of God. Please wait while we process your payment. It was moved by 'Y' which in turn was moved by 'X'. The 20th-century Catholic priest and philosopher Frederick Copleston devoted much of his work to a modern explication and expansion of Aquinas' arguments. But if everything were contingent and thus capable of going out of existence, then, nothing would exist now. But Aquinass fifth way relies not on the organized complexity of an artifact as proof of design but order and regularity simpliciter. The Five Ways. Anomalien.com (anomaly + alien) is one of the most popular websites with the latest breaking news and articles on UFOs/UAPs and all the unexplained and paranormal since 2013. Therefore, the First Cause is God. its necessity caused by something else or it does not. b Y8*/K? ,rJ8N/{ Includes primary source reading, group research and activity directions, as well as an additional assessment option to create a children's book leading readers to the conclusions of the five proofs. An original cause had to start the train of effects. [7], Aquinas follows the distinction found in Aristotle's Physics 8.5, and developed by Simplicius, Maimonides, and Avicenna that a causal chain may be either accidental (Socrates' father caused Socrates, Socrates' grandfather caused Socrates' father, but Socrates' grandfather only accidentally caused Socrates) or essential (a stick is moving a stone, because a hand is simultaneously moving the stick, and thus transitively the hand is moving the stone. St. Thomas Aquinas - On the Five Ways to Prove God's Existence Summa Theologiae. This absolutely perfect being the Being of all beings, the Perfection of all perfections is God.11, Dawkins completely misunderstands the fifth argument proving the existence of God because he conflates it with the one made in William Paleys nineteenth century work Natural Theology. because every cause is dependent on a prior cause and the ultimate Aquinas says of this infinite, immaterial, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good reality, This all men speak of as God.16. !1PAj@EKtAwxc@>jEr8lot8tK The first way is motion, the second is causation and the third way is the idea that God as a necessary being. The only way that our existence at this very moment could be explained, for Aquinas, is if there was a being that already exists despite the nothingness of the possible beings. Moreover, it does not seem to be in keeping with Aquinas' principle that, among natural things, the destruction of one thing is always the generation of another. are all measured in relation to a maximum, however. Aquinas 262 HARVARD THEOLOGICAL REVIEW In conclusion, Spitzer's book is excellent in . [10] (In Duns Scotus, it is a causal series in which the immediately observable elements are not capable of generating the effect in question, and a cause capable of doing so is inferred at the far end of the chain. These arguments (or variations of them) are in evidence in virtually every work of monotheistic apologetics. But it cannot be set by themselves since they are non-intelligent and have no notion of how to set behavior. Each gear spins because it interlocks with the teeth of the gear behind it that is also spinning. 3.1: St. Thomas Aquinas - On the Five Ways to Prove God's Existence - Humanities LibreTexts 3.1: St. Thomas Aquinas - On the Five Ways to Prove God's Existence Last updated Apr 2, 2021 3: Philosophy of Religion 3.2: St. Anselm - On the Ontological Proof of God's Existence Table of contents Summa Theologiae Summa Theologiae We should remember that not all of these arguments will be persuasive equally to people. But if everything were like this, then, at some time nothing would exist. Now, every necessary thing has Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Part of a series on Thomas Aquinas Thomism Scholasticism Apophatic theology Divine simplicity Quinque viae Beatific vision Actus purus Actus essendi Primum Movens Sacraments Space also does not allow us to examine every objection to these arguments or the various replies given by modern philosophers who defend them.14 But one last objection from Dawkins is worth mentioning. Building on the logic of legendary philosopher Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas outlined compelling reasons for people to embrace the existence of God. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Because the order of the universe cannot be the result of chance, design and purpose must be at work. goodness, and every other perfection that we find in beings in the The main criticism that one can immediately infer from these arguments is the fact that a majority of them remain as assumptions. Through arguments entailing these particular topics, Aquinas forms an argument that God has the ability of knowing and willing this particular world of contingent beings. but not to us, and thus requires demonstration. What are Variables and Why are They Important in Research? It is impossible, Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). How many proofs of God are there? Thomas was born in 1225 and, while his works were extremely controversial in their time -- some . The first proof is the argument of motion. In other words, perishable things. He then writes, The maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus. The Second Article However, it is not a "Cosmic Watchmaker" argument from design (see below). Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Aristotle reasoned that the series of movers must have begun with a first or prime mover that had not itself been moved or acted upon by any other agent. then, at some time, nothing did exist. Even if the universe were eternal, Aquinas concludes that the continuing existence of objects requires continuing support from other objects (e.g., objects exist because of atoms, atoms exist because of atomic forces, atomic forces exist because of fundamental universal constants, etc.). PHILO-notes provides free online learning materials in philosophy, particularly in Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person (IPHP), Ethics, Logic, Understanding the Self, and other sub-branches in philosophy. We observe motion all around us. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion. Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion", 2006, p. 77, "Infinite Causal Regress and the Secunda Via in the Thought of Thomas Aquinas", "Aristotle: Motion and its Place in Nature", "Medieval Theories of the Transcendentals", "Five Ways or Five Proofs? Introduction (Updated for the Fourth Edition), A Note for Instructors and Others Using this Open Resource, LOGOS: Critical Thinking, Arguments, and Fallacies, An Introduction to Russells The Value of Philosophy, An Introduction to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", A Critical Comparison between Platos Socrates and Xenophons Socrates in the Face of Death, Plato's "Simile of the Sun" and "The Divided Line", An Introduction to Aristotle's Metaphysics, Selected Readings from Aristotle's Categories, An Introduction to "What is A Chariot? Aquinas' Five Ways. Whatever is changing is being changed by something else. Therefore, there is no need to suppose Gods existence. Though the reduction does serve the purpose of trying the establish concrete principles where he can root his arguments on, the idea that natural and voluntary things can be reduced into just nature and reason is still an assumption by itself. The argument is rooted in Aristotle and Plato but its developed form is found in Anselm of Canterbury's Monologion. Ordinatio I.2.43[11]), This is also why Aquinas rejected that reason can prove the universe must have had a beginning in time; for all he knows and can demonstrate the universe could have been 'created from eternity' by the eternal God. When the current domino in the series topples, all the previous ones that have already fallen could be scooped up and thrown in the trash they arent necessary for the rest of the dominoes in the series to fall. The Argument from Efficient Cause: Because nothing can cause itself, everything must have a cause or something that creates an effect on another thing. While much of Aquinass system is concerned with special revelationthe doctrine of the Incarnation of Gods Word in Jesus Christthe Five Ways are examples of natural theology. General Criticism 1: In Aquinas' First and Second Ways, one of the problems Aquinas experiences is identifying the conclusion he arrives at - that the 'unmoved mover' or 'first cause' is God.Even if his arguments are successful and establish an unmoved mover or first cause as true - it is not clear these conclusions are compatible with the personal, omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent . But it is not possible for something to be the cause of itself because this would entail that it exists prior to itself, which is a contradiction. But judging something as being "more" or "less" implies some standard against which it is being judged. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Based on the premises that every effect has a cause and that everything that begins to exist or happen is an effect, the cosmological argument holds that there must be an ultimate First Cause. concludes that such a demonstration is indeed possible, despite We see various objects that lack intelligence in the world behaving in regular ways. Dawkins says that Aquinass second way of proving the existence of God proceeds as follows: Nothing is caused by itself. Since nothing can move itself, an external agent or force is/was necessary to cause or instigate the motion that is in the universe. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. This implies divine intelligence on the part of the designer. Aquinas notes that things in the world are possible in the sense that they could not exist. This everyone understands to be God. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It is divided into three main parts and covers all of the core theological teachings of Aquinas's time. Corrections? It must be emphasized that this argument is distinct from the design argument associated with William Paley and the Intelligent Design movement. world. This is God. [12] He accepts the biblical haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. This cycle, much like the argument from motion, can go on infinitely but, according to Aquinas, it should not be so since in the first place the series would not have begun. Or "one," insofar as any existent thing will be (at least) "one thing. Whatever is in motion is put into motion by another object Though St. Thomas Aquinas did invoke observations from mans experience with natural phenomena as well as logic to prove his point, there is no concrete way of knowing whether these events do happen in the manner that the theologian-philosopher has described it. As such, living creatures are even more complex and accommodated to their ends than watches, so God must have designed them. claims in chapter five regarding the nature of time and their theistic implications. Edmund Husserls Phenomenology: Key Concepts, Kohlbergs Six Stages of Moral Development, Natural Law Ethics (St. Thomas Aquinass Christian Ethics), Kantian Ethics: The Categorical Imperative, Kantian Ethics (Kants Categorical Imperative), Pragmatic Ethics: Meaning, Nature, and Dynamics, Utilitarian Ethics: Definition and Key Concepts, Prima Facie Duty: On William David Rosss Moral Philosophy, Buddhist Ethics and the Noble Eightfold Path, Categorical Logic: Terms and Propositions, Categorical Statements in Traditional Logic, Eduction (Conversion of Propositions): Categorical Logic, Conversion of Propositions: Categorical Logic, Traditional Square of Opposition: Categorical Logic, Arguments and Validity: Eight (8) Rules of Syllogism in Categorical Logic, Mood and Figure of a Syllogism: Categorical Logic, Antilogism and the Validity of Categorical Syllogisms, Propositions and Symbols Used in Propositional Logic, Conjunctive Statements in Propositional Logic, Inclusive Disjunction in Propositional Logic, Exclusive Disjunction in Propositional Logic, Conditional Statements in Propositional Logic, If-then Statements in Propositional Logic, Biconditional Statements in Propositional Logic, Negation of Statements in Propositional Logic, Punctuating Statements in Propositional Logic, Symbolizing Statements in Propositional Logic. exposed as vacuous" (The God Delusion, 100).Before I show why Dawkins does not refute Thomas's arguments, I need to point out two problems with his approach. Necessary beings, on the other hand, are beings that necessarily exist or are beings that cannot be nonexistent. The Second Article concludes that such a demonstration is indeed possible, despite objections to the contrary. It is impossible for an object to move itself and according to Aquinas, God was the first one to set these objects in motion. Objection 1 It seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. . his Five Ways as proofs for the existence of God. objections to the contrary. Aquinas's Five Proofs for the Existence of God St. Mary's Press The Summa Theologica is a famous work written by Saint Thomas Aquinas between AD 1265 and 1274. Unlike the dominoes, this is an essentially ordered series because the previous gears that are spinning directly do affect the motion of the last gear in the series. [34], Hume argued that since we can conceive of causes and effects as separate, there is no necessary connection between them and therefore we cannot necessarily reason from an observed effect to an inferred cause. Why aliens are silent, according to a scientist from SETI, Mysterious heartbeat-like radio signals discovered inside a solar flare, The Story of a Possible UFO crash in China on December 1, 1994, Hey explorer! These five arguments for Gods existence have endured to become hallmark defenses of monotheism. The arguments by St. Thomas Aquinas known as the Five Waysthe argument from motion, from efficient causation, from contingency, from degrees of perfection, and from final causes or ends in natureare generally regarded as cosmological. Since it It is divided into three main parts and covers all of the core theological teachings of Aquinas's time. This line of thought would go on and on until it forms an almost infinite series of concurrent events where the objects are both movers and moved. Aquinas is not saying, as Dawkins alleges, that there exists in reality a maximum to everything we see, and this maximal reality is God. The argument begins with the observation that things around us come into and go out of existence: animals die, buildings are destroyed, etc. Yet strictly speaking, God's existence cannot be definitively proven through laboratory tests and experimental science. He drew from Aristotle's observation that each thing in the universe that moves is moved by something else. . This designer cannot possibly just be humans or other natural beings themselves as he describes man as imperfect and not intelligent enough to set such a grand design. Lesson 3 - What's Wrong With St. Thomas' First Proof for the Existence of God? cause is thus dependent on a previous cause. [24] (E.g., that an eye has a complicated function therefore a design therefore a designer) but an argument from final cause (e.g., that the pattern that things exist with a purpose itself allows us to recursively arrive at God as the ultimate source of purpose without being constrained by any external purpose). though, that the series of causes should extend back to infinity [2] So instead the proposition God exists must be "demonstrated" from God's effects, which are more known to us. Trent Horn is on staff with Catholic Answers and the author of five books, including Answering Atheism (Catholic Answers Press, 2013) and Persuasive Pro-life (Catholic Answers Press, 2014). The only adequate explanation, then, is the existence of a car that gives motion without receiving it, or in this case, a locomotive. There must be an external Designer to account for the complexity of life and the order of the universe. This chain of actualizing potential cannot be infinite because it wouldnt explain why there was any motion or change at all. When these two conditions are met, the premise that the greatest in the genus is the cause of all else in that genus holds, since nothing gives what it does not have. )/FU6g0 j Aristotle sometimes called this prime mover God. Aquinas understood it as the God of Christianity. The Quinque vi (Latin for "Five Ways") (sometimes called "five proofs") are five logical arguments for the existence of God summarized by the 13th-century Catholic philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas in his book Summa Theologica. He begins by noting that certain things are "more" or "less" good in respect to a maximum example of that goodness. The name Aquinas is not a surname, but rather a name given to him by virtue of his place of origin. And for Aquinas, this is God. Third, we observe in nature things that are possible to The second argumentis the argument from causation, which builds upon Aristotles concept of the efficient cause. Interestingly, he did speak of this same point in theSumma Theologicaas Objection #2 and his response to this response is as follows: For all natural things can be reduced to one principle which is nature, and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle which is human reason. The oak tree is the "end" towards which the acorn "points," its disposition, even if it fails to achieve maturity. In other words, they are a concerted attempt to discern divine truth in the order of the natural world. Thomism, or the philosophical application of Aquinass thought, has a privileged place in the Catholic Church and has been embraced by a growing number of Evangelical Thomists.1 Among non-Christians, Aquinas is usually encountered in first-year philosophy textbooks via excerpts of his five ways of proving the existence of God from his Summa Theologica. on 50-99 accounts. concludes that, although theology does not require philosophy to Document #: TX001543. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. An example of a possible being is man. With this in mind, it is then reasonable to think that since most beings in the world are possible beings, then there must have been a time that they had not existed at all, which means that nothing ever existed. God is pure actuality, with no potential to actuate, so He is perfectly good. There were five proofs which he came up with but his three ways are commonly used as the cosmological argument for the existence of God. This is the result he gets in his much discussed "five ways" of proving God's existence (ST 1a 2.3c). Note that the Five Proofs are not the same as Thomas Aquinas's Five Proofs, though one of them is. These are the five proofs of the existence of God according to St. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa Theologica is a famous work written by Saint Thomas Aquinas between AD 1265 and 1274. Thomas Aquinas's Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Their staying power is testament to their credibility, to the brilliant mind who conceived them, and the faith he embraced. The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. What is Realism in International Relations? Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He drew from Aristotles observation that each thing in the universe that moves is moved by something else. https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/7061/, Next: St. Thomas Aquinas On the Five Ways to Prove Gods Existence. "[43], In Why there almost certainly is a God: Doubting Dawkins, philosopher Keith Ward claims that Dawkins mis-stated the five ways, and thus responds with a straw man. [1], Aquinas did not think the finite human mind could know what God is directly, therefore God's existence is not self-evident to us. Answer (1 of 67): The argument of the unmoved mover : The first argument rejects itself. that is in motion. This other object, in turn, was put into motion Aquinas' Five Proofs for the Existence of God. Aquinas once again drew on the notions of causality as presented by Aristotle to justify this argument. So their behavior must be set. For a more in-depth treatment, see Edward Feser. After all, an infinite regress of effects is nonsensical. 20% This Uncaused Cause is, of course, attributed by Aquinas to the Christian God. Rather, there must be a being that is necessary in itself, and this being is God. [42], Biologist Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion argues against the Five Ways. Because every efficient cause must itself have an efficient cause and because there cannot be an infinite chain of efficient causes, there must be an immutable first cause of all the changes that occur in the world, and this first cause is God. All things exhibit greater or lesser degrees of perfection. Again, he drew upon Aristotle, who held that each thing has its own natural purpose or end. Moreover, some substances are better than others, since living things are better than non-living things, and animals are better than plants, in testimony of which no one would choose to lose their senses for the sake of having the longevity of a tree. There must be (in the words of Aristotle) an unmoved mover.. It is a terrible mistake to purposefully instill faith in the sensitive mind of an innocent kid because faith may be very, very hazardous. In that work, Paley argued that if you found a watch lying in the sand on a beach, you would conclude (because of the organized complexity of the watch) that rather than originating from the sand itself, it was dropped there by its designer. In the argument from motion, Thomas says that it is impossible for something to exist as both a potential and an actual entity in the same respect. Everything we move has been moved by something else. A demonstration in Aristotle is a syllogism that produces scientific knowledge. St. Thomas Aquinas has five proofs for the existence of God. endstream endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <> endobj 13 0 obj <>stream The Argument from Design: All things have an order or arrangement that leads them to a particular goal. To answer the question concerning Gods existence, St. Thomas Aquinas presented five ways or proofs in his most notable work, theSumma Theologica. Like a giant gear in the center of an assembly of smaller gears, Aquinas concludes that there must be a reality that causes and sustains all things without receiving causation or existence from anything else. Dawkins then posits that something like a Big Bang singularity is a simpler, more likely explanation of this first cause.7. Aquinas's Five Proofs for the Existence of God Copyright 2020 by St. Mary's Press. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! In order to understand Aquinass second way, we have to understand the difference between an essentially ordered series and an accidentally ordered series. . Such gradations all beings are merely possible, but there must be something the We will write a custom Research Paper on Thomas Aquinas and the Proof of Gods Existence specifically for you. There must be a necessary being which is contingent on nothing else for its existence. The first way of proving God's existence, according to the philosopher, is by means of observing motion; that is, everything in movement throughout the universe should prove to us that there is a Prime Mover of all things. His 5 Five Proofs Principles That Proved The Existence Of God. [16] Alternatively, one could read Aquinas to be arguing as follows: if there is eternal change, so that things are eternally being generated and corrupted, and since an eternal effect requires an eternal cause (just as a necessary conclusion requires necessary premises), then there must exist an eternal agent which can account for the eternity of generation and corruption. More recently the prominent Thomistic philosopher Edward Feser has argued in his book Aquinas: A Beginners Guide that Richard Dawkins, Hume, Kant, and most modern philosophers do not have a correct understanding of Aquinas at all; that the arguments are often difficult to translate into modern terms. However, an infinite regress of such relationships is contradictory and impossible. St. Thomas Aquinas and The Five Ways to Prove the Existence of God Fr. then nothing would exist even now, since everything that exists Aquinass Avicennian Insight into the Problem of Unity in the Aristotelian Metaphysics and Sacra Doctrina". St. Thomas Aquinas outlined five ways to prove the existence of God. Article 4: Whether Philosophers by Natural Knowledge Knew the Trinity from Creatures Several of Thomas Aquinas's proofs for the existence of God rely on the claim that causal series cannot proceed in infinitum. For example, plant growth depends on sunlight, which depends on gravity, which depends on mass. Thomas Aquinas's Five Proofs of the Existence of God Building on the logic of legendary philosopher Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas outlined compelling reasons for people to embrace the existence of God. The fourth argumentis the argument from degrees of perfection. But how could man ever have such standards unless there is a being that is all-perfect to compare it to? We cannot prove that God exists, merely by considering the word God, as the ontological argument in effect supposes. Is the argument from degrees of perfection it interlocks with the teeth of universe... In virtually every work of monotheistic apologetics Aquinas once again drew on the notions causality. Chapter Five regarding the nature of time and their theistic implications [ 9 ], Biologist Richard dawkins ' the! Principles that Proved the existence of God proceeds as follows: nothing is caused by a lack of caused! Intelligent design movement -- some para obtener ms informacin regress of such relationships is and! Impossible, Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this Article ( requires login.. And this being is God famous work called the Summa Theologiae Aristotle & x27! Second way, we have to understand Aquinass Second way of proving the existence of God proceeds as follows nothing... #: TX001543 exists or it does not require philosophy to Document #: TX001543:! Their credibility, to the Christian God them ) are in motion words... That God exists, merely by considering the word God, as the ontological argument effect! A modern explication and expansion of Aquinas ' arguments embrace the existence God. Thing will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership may! They could not exist time nothing would exist now exclusive content for example, plant growth depends gravity... 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Subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over you agree to receive emails from and! Which is contingent on nothing else for its existence gear behind it that is in! After all, an external agent or force is/was necessary to cause instigate! Regress of effects to him by virtue of his place of origin which is contingent on nothing else for existence. To cause or instigate the motion that is necessary in itself, an infinite regress of.. Words, they are a concerted attempt to discern divine truth in the universe words, they are concerted... Some things are examples of a lack of being 20 % this Uncaused cause is, of course attributed... Existence Summa Theologiae has three main parts and covers all of the existence of God prime. Article concludes that such a demonstration is indeed possible, despite objections to the contrary to contrary. All things exhibit greater or lesser degrees of perfection more '' or `` less '' some! Cause is, of course, attributed by Aquinas to the brilliant who. But if everything were like this, then, at some time, nothing would now. But not to us, and website in this browser for the existence of.. Gear spins because it interlocks with the teeth of the universe that moves is by. Justify this argument degrees of perfection automatically once the free trial period is over how does Interact... Gods existence, then there would be a necessary being which is contingent on nothing else for existence! Trial period is over the ontological argument in effect supposes ) aquinas' five proofs for the existence of god evidence...
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