I just wrapped up my podcast discussion of Aquinas’ Five Ways by examining his Fourth and Fifth Ways. The Fourth Way argues that the grades of perfection we observe in the world can only be explained by the existence of a maximally perfect being. The Fifth Way argues for the existence of an intelligent being who guides everything towards their natural ends.
Check it out wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://thinkingtobelieve.buzzsprout.com. Feel free to comment on the episode here as well.
May 26, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Again, very good summaries of these arguments, Jason! I appreciate your efforts to understand them, including their underlying arguments which tie the claims together.
One tweak I would make with the Fourth Way, which is referred to in my private analysis, is how the gradation claims are tied together. First, here’s the Fourth Way:
Second, note how Aquinas ties together maximal being with nuanced being via a causal relationship. The principles of proportionate causality and essentially ordered causality are critical in explaining how nuanced being derives its perfections. The causal principles underlie each of the Five Ways. Of course, you tie this together in the Fifth Way, but it wasn’t clearly presented in your summary of the Fourth.
Thanks again for including the Five Ways in your series. Great work!
LikeLike
June 12, 2024 at 3:22 am
The consistency of Devine laws over the span of mankind transcends mankind’s ability to be so noble towards us flawed but redeemable creatures.
LikeLike