What is aquinas argument from contingency and necessity? -ZAW

What was the aim of aquinas' argument

-Was to explain why there is something rathe than nothing -to pave the existence of God -he could use reason to build upon faith

What does the argument consist of?

-suppose every thing that exists is contingent -if you go back far enough, you will find nothing and something can't come form nothing which is absurd -therefore there must be a necessary being that is capable of making something out of nothing -aquinas believes that necessary being is God

What was the starting point to aquinas argument?

-the bible

Define deductive

An argument that is based off of evidence -a certain conclusion -e.g. Mark is a man, all men like chocolate therefore mark likes chocolate

Define inductive

An argument that is based off of probability -an uncertain conclusion -e.g. Swan 1 and 2 are white but not all swans are white therefore it is possible that all swans are white

What is the style of reasoning of this argument?

Reductio ad obserdum -when you take a supposition, prove this to be false in order to show something else to be true

Define contingent

Something that depends o something else to exist. E.g. The table is contingnt upon wood

Define necessary

Something that doesn't depend on anything to exist and it cannot not exist E.g. God