Thursday, August 26, 2010

A Rough Attempt at Summarizing the Five Ways

The First Way examines what follows from the fact that actually existing things can be potential in other respects. It concludes that there is some actually existing thing that is not potential in any respect.

The Second Way examines what follows from the fact that actually existing things exist in ways dependent on other actually existing things. It concludes that there is an actually existing thing that exists independently of any other actually existing thing.

The Third Way examines what follows from the fact that actually existing things begin to exist. It concludes that there is an actually existing thing that does not begin to exist.

The Fourth Way examines what follows from the fact that the ways actual things exist can be more and less actual. It concludes that there is an actually existing thing whose way of existing is most actual.

The Fifth Way examines what follows from the fact that actually existing things act as disposed. It concludes that there is an actually existing thing that disposes [and is not disposed].