Thomas Aquinas

Episode Synopsis

In lecture two, we study Thomas Aquinas's approach to God, the central focus of his life. We examine why Aquinas rejects Anselm's ontological argument, preferring empirical proofs drawn from worldly observation. We analyze three of his Five Ways: the argument from motion (showing God as unmoved mover), from contingency (God as necessary being), and from teleology (God as supreme intelligence). Aquinas calls these "ways" not proofs, acknowledging human limitations in comprehending God. Each argument reveals God's present activity in the world, not merely past creation.