I published my episode on Aquinas’ Second Way for God’s existence on Friday. Aquinas argues that a causal series can only be explained by a first, uncaused cause who is the source of all causation (which we call “God”).
I also covered a related argument (the existential proof) that Aquinas offers in a different work. The existential proof argues that things whose essence is distinct from their existence can only be explained by a being whose essence and existence are identical; i.e. a being who just is existence itself.
Give the episode a listen (https://thinkingtobelieve.buzzsprout.com) and feel free to comment on the arguments presented on this blog post.
Thinking to Believe 
May 15, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Jason, there’s no link to your podcast here.
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May 15, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Just added.
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May 15, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Excellent summation of the Second Way and the Essence and Being (De Ente Et Essentia) Arguments. The only thing I would tweak is the description of form or the formal cause. Feser elsewhere calls it the organizing principle of a substance. Beginners often think that form is synonymous with shape.
Again, great job!
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May 16, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Thank you Scalia.
I might have used the word shape, but I don’t think I claimed that a form is just a shape. I think I described a form as the structure or pattern something exhibits. But I would think that includes its shape. The form of a ball, for example, is going to have a round shape. Would you agree?
I don’t recall Feser describing a form as the organizing principle of a substance. Could you flesh this out a bit more?
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May 17, 2024 at 8:56 am
Yes, the shape or pattern of a thing is included in its form. It is the actualizing principle of matter. Classical theists consider formless matter to be prime matter, which, as a potency principle, has no actuality until it’s conjoined with form. Once matter is actualized, it is individuated from other form/matter composites and thus recognized for the kind of thing that it is.
Feser doesn’t use the the specific term organizing principle in his book Aquinas. He uses it in some of his academic papers and talks. Of course, he’s not the only one who employs it. Since form is like a subject’s blueprint, it is the principle directing matter to exist in this particular way as opposed to that (e.g., the form that directs matter to be a lion rather than a tiger, even though both are felines).
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