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Single Idea 21268

[from 'Summa Theologicae' by Thomas Aquinas, in 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 5. Naturalism ]

Full Idea

All natural things can be reduced to one principle, which is nature; and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle, which is human reason, or will. Therefore God does not exist.

Gist of Idea

Non-human things are explicable naturally, and voluntary things by the will, so God is not needed

Source

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob2)

Book Reference

'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.82


A Reaction

Not, of course, the opinion of Aquinas. So the possibility of naturalism (assuming the human will can be further reduced to nature) was a clear option in the thirteenth century. In reply Aquinas cites his Fifth Way.

Related Idea

Idea 21273 Way 5: mindless things act towards an obvious end, so there is an intelligent director [Aquinas]