Objections to and Arguments for the Existence of God - Essay Example

DOES GOD EXIST By Tina Kerr Introduction. One of the most debated topics throughout history has been the existence of God. An eternal, all-good and almighty being appears to be a hard concept to grasp. There are arguments for and against the existence of God. The purpose of this paper is to address this question, by examining the work of Thomas Aquinas. The paper will critically analyze this argument by addressing Aquinas' reasons for God's existence and objections to God's existence as provided in his text, Summa Theologie. The section that will be studied is a practical examination of the question of God's existence entitled, Whether God Exists He provides objections to the existence of God and then highlights five pieces of evidence that God does exist and answers the earlier objections. Aquinas' five reasons for the existence of God are: the principle of motion, efficient cause, possibility and necessity, gradation of things and finally the governance of the world. These principles are used to counter two earlier mentioned objections as to the existence of God. These objections question the probability of an all-good God allowing evil in the world and whether or not God is the true source of creation. The main argument for the existence of God is that the source of all in existence is best explained by an original source with no limits and that is God. This paper aims to examine both objections to and arguments for the existence of God by examining the five points presented by Aquinas and cross examining these points with Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych and Anselm's Proslogion. After examining both sides of the issue the paper will determine how Aquinas successfully argues the existence of God. Summary The main argument that Aquinas presents is clear: God exists. Aquinas argues this by first, outlining two objections to the existence of God. These objections will be discussed in more detail later. He then, counters these objections by outlining five reasons for God's existence. The first reason Aquinas gives for the existence of God is the concept of motion. He argues that in order for motion to take place something must first move it. Aquinas argues, "Thus that which is actually hot, as fire, makes wood, which is potentially hot, to be actually hot, and thereby moves and changes it." The wood has a potential to become hot; however it needs fire in order for it to actually become hot. Aquinas argues that there must be a first mover and that first mover is best understood as God. The second reason is concerned with causality. Aquinas argues that nothing can exist by itself nor can it cause itself. Something else must cause it. The third reason argues that everything has a potential to exist only if something else will cause it to exist. These things are necessary, just as a male and female are necessary to produce offspring. However there must be an original cause of these necessities. This ties in with Anselms,' Proslogion in which he ponders God's existence by considering an understanding of God's existence. He argues that if God exists only in one's mind than something greater than God could be conceived, however it can't. Thus Anselm states, "Hence there is no doubt that there exists a being, than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and reality". Something must be the greatest and thus the source of all that can be conceived and that something is God. The fourth argues that everything has a position on a scale from worst to best, slowest to fastest and other such extremes. Everything has a maximum or perfection to be reached and so there must be an original source of perfection and this source is God. The fifth reason is that everything in the world that is unintelligent, such as plants, landforms, the ocean and the like all work towards a particular purpose. The ocean provides a home for marine life and the source of rain; plants clear the air and provide food and shelter for animals. If each of these things serves a purpose, then something that has intelligence must be in control and Aquinas argues that this intelligence is God. Critical Analysis 1. For every argument there is another side. Aquinas addresses two objections to the existence of God. The first is that if God is all good, evil should not also be present. Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych expands on this point. The Death of Ivan Ilych, follows the life, death and funeral of Ivan Ilych. It portrays the seeming senselessness of life and of death. When Ivan is successful he is happy and when he is unsuccessful or circumstances do not suit him he is not happy. Tolstoy writes, "So that on the whole Ivan Ilych's life continued to flow as he considered it should do pleasantly and properly." This sounds good, however it is really a statement of a pointless life, and as Ivan Ilych approaches death, he questions, "Is this death" (Tolstoy) By doing this he questions life and therefore God. The second objection is the suggestion that existence can be explained otherwise. (Aquinas) One example of this would be the theory of evolution. Aquinas writes, "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, or will." There appears, therefore to be other ways to explain existence. Critical Analysis 2. Aquinas counters these objections by using his five reasons for God's existence and by directly responding to them. The direct answer to the first objection is that God may allow evil to exist in order to bring good out of that evil. Aquinas states, "He would not allow any evil to exist in His works, unless His omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil". What Aquinas is saying here is that God allows evil to exist so that he can bring about good. The second objection is countered by Aquinas' five reasons as well as his direct reply. Aquinas argues that everything that exists must have an ultimate origin. Aquinas states, "Since nature works for a determinate end under the direction of a higher agent, whatever is done by nature must needs be traced back to God, as to its first cause." Nature and evolution may be a suitable explanation for certain natural events, however nature does not explain its own origin nor does evolution explain the origin of existence itself. As for The Death of Ivan Ilych, the story can be read in two ways. It can be read as above, that life is meaningless and therefore there is no God. Otherwise, one could say of The Death of Ivan Ilych that life is meaningless without an acceptance of God. (Tolstoy) Aquinas argues that God governs unintelligent things toward an end; however one also may argue that beings of intelligence, that is, human beings may also have an end or purpose. God provides an explanation for both life and death. Conclusion. Aquinas uses the concept of existence to argue the existence of God. There are many counter arguments to the existence of God, however if one tries to explain existence itself, God is the most feasible explanation. For anything to move or come into being or take a position on a scale of extremes there must be something perfect and beyond mere existence. This phenomenon would be the source of all things on earth. One may argue against God being this source by arguing that something else could be the source; however nature cannot function the way it does without an intelligence guiding it and God must be this intelligence for He is defined as the ultimate intelligence. He is also the ultimate concept and thus the source of all that can be conceived. One also may argue that life is meaningless and therefore there can be no God to give life meaning. This concept can be discovered in Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych. However the same story can be read to argue that without God there is no meaning to life or explanation of death. It is God whom provides meaning to life as he uses both natural and intelligent forms for His purpose. As well as this there is the question of evil. If God is all good, it is questioned as to why there is evil in the world. As mentioned above, all things are used for God's purpose and therefore evil can be used for God's good purpose. By critically analysing both sides of an argument one can come to an educated decision. Aquinas argues for God's existence by giving five pieces of evidence. There are objections to this argument, however the most meaningful and logical argument that can be found in examining existence itself and meaning to life is that God exists. REFERENCES St Anselm, "Proslogion", Medieval Sourcebook. Ed. Paul Halsall. 1998. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 18 May 2006 Aquinas, Thomas. "Summa Theologica". New Advent. 2003. Nihil Obstat. 13 May 2006 Tolstoy, Lev Nikolayevich. "The Death of Ivan Ilych". Trans. Louise Maude and Aylmer Maude. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Calvin College, 14 May 2006 Read More