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