Revisiting Aquinas Proofs for the Existence of God. (Value Inquiry Book Series / Philosophy and Religion)

Edited and introduced by Robert Arp, Revisiting Aquinas' Proofs for the Existence of God is a collection of new papers written by scholars focusing on the famous Five Proofs or Ways ( Quinque Viae ) for the existence of God put forward by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) near the beginning of his unfinished tome, Summa Theologica . It is not an exaggeration to say that not only is Aquinas' Summa a landmark text in the history of Western philosophy and Christianity, but also that the Five Proofs discussed therein--namely, the arguments that conclude to the Unmoved Mover, Uncaused Cause, Necessary Being, Superlative Being, and Intelligent Director--are as compelling today as they were in the 13th Century. Written in a debate format with different scholars arguing for and against each Proof, the papers in the book consist of arguments utilizing various combinations of contemporary science and philosophical ideas to bolster the positions. The result is a revisiting of Aquinas' Proofs that is relevant, stimulating, enlightening, and refreshing. Contents 8 Editorial Foreword • Kenneth A. Bryson 10 Introduction • Robert Arp 12 The First Proof 40 1 A Motion to Reconsider: A Defense of Aquinas’ Prime Mover Argument • Heather Thornton McRae and James McRae 40 2 The Prime Mover Removed: A Contemporary Critique of Aquinas’ Prime Mover Argument • Richard Geenen and Roger Hunt 58 3 A Response to Geenen and Hunt • Heather Thornton McRae and James McRae 72 4 A Response to McRae and McRae • Richard Geenen and Roger Hunt 76 The Second Proof 82 5 The Relevance of Aquinas’ Uncaused Cause Argument • Gaven Kerr 82 6 The Irrelevance of Aquinas’ Uncaused Cause Argument • Herbert Roseman 98 7 A Response to Roseman • Gaven Kerr 118 8 A Response to Kerr • Herbert Roseman 122 The Third Proof 134 9 From Contingency to Necessary Being • Adam Barkman 134 10 Problems with Aquinas’ Third Way • Edward Moad 142 11 A Response to Moad • Adam Barkman 152 12 A Response to Barkman • Edward Moad 154 The Fourth Proof 158 13 A Fourth Way to Prove God’s Existence • David Beck 158 14 Not So Superlative: The Fourth Way as Comparatively Problematic • Benjamin W. McCraw 184 15 A Response to McCraw • Edward N. Martin 214 16 A Response to Beck • Benjamin W. McCraw 220 The Fifth Proof 226 Aquinas’ Fifth Way and the Possibility of Science • Michael Hayes 226 Science and Nature without God • Kevin S. Decker 238 A Response to Decker • Michael Hayes 248 A Response to Hayes • Kevin S. Decker 252 Works Cited 256 About the Contributors 276 Index 280 This book is a collection of new papers written by scholars focusing on the famous Five Proofs or Ways (Quinque Viae) for the existence of God put forward by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) near the beginning of his unfinished tome, et#x91;Summa Theologicaet#x92;. It is not an exaggeration to say that not only is Aquinaset#x92; Summa a landmark text in the history of Western philosophy and Christianity, but also that the Five Proofs discussed therein et#x97; namely, the arguments that conclude to the Unmoved Mover, Uncaused Cause, Necessary Being, Superlative Being, and Intelligent Director et#x97; are as compelling today as they were in the 13th Century. Written in a debate format with different scholars arguing for and against each Proof, the papers in the book consist of arguments utilizing various combinations of contemporary science and philosophical ideas to bolster the positions. The result is a revisiting of Aquinaset#x92; Proofs that is relevant, stimulating, enlightening, and refreshing