The second way is known as the uncaused causer. It is very similar to the first ‘way’ except this one focuses on the concept of cause and effect. Aquinas said that the world is made up of a serious of causes and effects, but for these effects to exist there must have been a first cause. . This again can not go back to infinity; therefore there must have been a first cause to reach the ultimate effect. Aquinas concluded that God caused the universe and all effects were ‘made’ by him.
The two above arguments are both closely related and many philosophers disagree with them. The arguments contradict themselves, because Aquinas claims nothing can go back to infinity and must have had a first cause/motion, But then this leaves us with the question of where God came from.
The third way is all about contingent and necessary beings. Aquinas observed that in nature people and objects come in and out of existence. However if things have to come into existence then nothing would ever of existed. There had to be something else here first as nature shows there are necessary beings, objects that are always present. But Aquinas argued that there must have been a very first cause and claimed this presence was God. God is a necessary being and if he didn’t exist first then there would always of been nothing.
This is another argument that could be believable if it was more developed. Once again it does not give any insight into why God was present first, there is no real proof or proper evidence.
The fourth way is known as the way of Excellence. Aquinas put forward the idea that the world is made up of ‘mores’ or ‘less’ e.g. if an object is said to be hottest then “it more resembles that which is hottest.” If fire is the cause of all hot things then we must compare anything seen as ‘hot’ to how close it is to the heat of fire.
This is an idea of everything having to achieve a maximum. With humans we are striving to be closest to perfection, Aquinas said that to be closest to perfection then we must use God as our maximum.
This is argument is just another version of St.Anselms ontological argument. It does not really e4xpand on it and offers no new insight to why God is our maximum.
The fifth way revolves around the concept of purpose. In the world we all must have a purpose, a means to our end. Aquinas used the example of an arrow and a target to demonstrate this point. For the arrow to reach its target it must be directed by the archer. Aquinas’ argument claims that God is our archer and we are the arrows being directed to our target.
This argument is quite strong, the world does show cause and effect but this argument still doesn’t explain how God came into existence.
