1 God is the first mover
2 God does not exist
3 Movement exists
4 But there is no first mover
5 Therefore there is no second mover and so on
6 Therefore there is no movement
3 contradicts 6
Therefore atheism ends in contradiction.
We can also substitute movement for causation, perfection and order and arrive at the same conclusion that a denial of the existence of God ends in contradiction. Therefore atheism always ends in contradiction. Therefore atheism is false.
2 God does not exist
3 Movement exists
4 But there is no first mover
5 Therefore there is no second mover and so on
6 Therefore there is no movement
3 contradicts 6
Therefore atheism ends in contradiction.
We can also substitute movement for causation, perfection and order and arrive at the same conclusion that a denial of the existence of God ends in contradiction. Therefore atheism always ends in contradiction. Therefore atheism is false.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A contingent being is a being that comes into existence and goes out of existence
Such a being is therefore dependent for its beginning of existence on another being
Also, because such a being goes out of existence, that being must be able to lose its being.
But to lose its being means its being is not the same as its essence
For an essence is the what-ness of a thing and the ‘be’ is the existence of a thing
And to lose the existence of a thing means the things nature is not of itself ‘be’, but another.
This another is not ‘be’, but must be an essence united to ‘be’ when the thing exists
Therefore, a contingent being has a real distinction between essence and ‘be’
But to have a real distinction between essence and be, yet the essence is united to the ‘be’ when the thing exists in the real means two contrarily diverse causes exist as united
But what is diverse, of itself cannot be united, except that the diverse are united by another cause
Therefore a contingent being, which has a real diversity of essence and ‘be’, must be efficiently caused by another cause to bring about the unity of essence and be in a thing.
This efficient cause must itself have and essence and a ‘be’
If this other cause also has a real distinction between essence and ‘be’, then it too is also kept in existence by another and so on
As this series cannot bring any unity to essence and ‘be’ in any thing, for each contingent being lacks a unifying cause to keep the thing in existence
Then the cause that keeps a contingent being in existence is a cause that is not contingent
But a thing existing that is not contingent is a thing existing that is necessary
But a necessary thing existing must from its essence be identical to its existence
Therefore the necessary being has an identity of essence and ‘be’
This means the necessary being must exist
Therefore the necessary being exists.
A corollary argument follows -
If a thing exists then its existence is either from itself or from another
If the things existence is from self, then it is not dependent upon another, then it is the necessary being
If a thing exists and is dependent on another for existence, then it is from itself indifferent to existence
But what is indifferent to existence is a contingent being.
Therefore for a thing to exist, it is then either contingent or necessary
If it is contingent, then it is ultimately dependent upon the necessary
If a thing is necessary then it must exist
Therefore if a thing exists, therefore the necessary being exists
A thing does exist, therefore the necessary being exists
Also therefore from the nature of a necessary being having an identity of essence and be, if a contingent being does or does not exist, the necessary being must exist.
Therefore the necessary being exists.
Another argument
The principle of identity says A is A is true
A necessary thing is a thing which must exist
Thing is thing (A is A)
The necessary is must exist (B is B)
A necessary (B) thing (A) is a thing (A) which must exist (B)
A is A is true
B is B is true
Therefore BA is BA true
Which is the same as the principle of identity, which is true
Therefore the necessary being must exist is true, from the principle of identity.
Another similar argument
The principle of identity says A is A is true
A thing that is necessary, is a thing which must exist
Thing is thing (A is A)
The necessary is must exist (B is B)
A thing (A) that is necessary, (B) is a thing (A) which must exist (B)
A is A is true
B is B is true
Therefore AB is AB true
Which is the same as the principle of identity, which is true
Therefore the necessary being must exist is true, from the principle of identity.
Such a being is therefore dependent for its beginning of existence on another being
Also, because such a being goes out of existence, that being must be able to lose its being.
But to lose its being means its being is not the same as its essence
For an essence is the what-ness of a thing and the ‘be’ is the existence of a thing
And to lose the existence of a thing means the things nature is not of itself ‘be’, but another.
This another is not ‘be’, but must be an essence united to ‘be’ when the thing exists
Therefore, a contingent being has a real distinction between essence and ‘be’
But to have a real distinction between essence and be, yet the essence is united to the ‘be’ when the thing exists in the real means two contrarily diverse causes exist as united
But what is diverse, of itself cannot be united, except that the diverse are united by another cause
Therefore a contingent being, which has a real diversity of essence and ‘be’, must be efficiently caused by another cause to bring about the unity of essence and be in a thing.
This efficient cause must itself have and essence and a ‘be’
If this other cause also has a real distinction between essence and ‘be’, then it too is also kept in existence by another and so on
As this series cannot bring any unity to essence and ‘be’ in any thing, for each contingent being lacks a unifying cause to keep the thing in existence
Then the cause that keeps a contingent being in existence is a cause that is not contingent
But a thing existing that is not contingent is a thing existing that is necessary
But a necessary thing existing must from its essence be identical to its existence
Therefore the necessary being has an identity of essence and ‘be’
This means the necessary being must exist
Therefore the necessary being exists.
A corollary argument follows -
If a thing exists then its existence is either from itself or from another
If the things existence is from self, then it is not dependent upon another, then it is the necessary being
If a thing exists and is dependent on another for existence, then it is from itself indifferent to existence
But what is indifferent to existence is a contingent being.
Therefore for a thing to exist, it is then either contingent or necessary
If it is contingent, then it is ultimately dependent upon the necessary
If a thing is necessary then it must exist
Therefore if a thing exists, therefore the necessary being exists
A thing does exist, therefore the necessary being exists
Also therefore from the nature of a necessary being having an identity of essence and be, if a contingent being does or does not exist, the necessary being must exist.
Therefore the necessary being exists.
Another argument
The principle of identity says A is A is true
A necessary thing is a thing which must exist
Thing is thing (A is A)
The necessary is must exist (B is B)
A necessary (B) thing (A) is a thing (A) which must exist (B)
A is A is true
B is B is true
Therefore BA is BA true
Which is the same as the principle of identity, which is true
Therefore the necessary being must exist is true, from the principle of identity.
Another similar argument
The principle of identity says A is A is true
A thing that is necessary, is a thing which must exist
Thing is thing (A is A)
The necessary is must exist (B is B)
A thing (A) that is necessary, (B) is a thing (A) which must exist (B)
A is A is true
B is B is true
Therefore AB is AB true
Which is the same as the principle of identity, which is true
Therefore the necessary being must exist is true, from the principle of identity.
No comments:
Post a Comment