#efficient cause

Into the Last Remaining Unexplored Region on Earth: The Human Mind, by Charles Saunders

Portrait of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677), ca. 1665, by an unknown artist

Why Spinoza, Why Now?

A Series of Six Essays for Ordinary Philosophy – A Condensed Version of The Ethics – Examined in Detail

Part 1: Into the Last Remaining Unexplored Region on Earth: The Human Mind

Baruch Spinoza(1632-1677) was a respected scholar of Jewish ancestry who eventually became known for his philosophy and…

Ain’t Got A Prayer

If there were more Christians and Christian ministers like the Rev. Terri Stewart, there is a pretty good chance — who knows for sure?  — that I would still be one, too. And if there were more monotheistslike Terri, it is a pretty safe bet that — while there no guarantees — I most likely would not, as I presently do, regard monotheistic religion as a malignant canker on the arse of human…

I’m currently working on my writing sample for MA philosophy graduate program admission, due within a few days.             In my essay I’ve made certain claims, and it was pointed out the claims I’ve made are flawed, so I’m now backed into a corner, and either must revise my claim, or find a crack that I can exploit. I will explain some background, then my claim, and its weakness, moving into some possible resolutions.

           Descartes uses his dualism theory to explain what he characterizes as the “passions” - what we call emotions (passions are emotions). He says that the passions cause us sensations by agitating the soul - the part of us which the mind is contained in. So we feel emotions by the movement of our soul. There are two sources of a passion - external objects, which are material; and the soul itself - which is immaterial. External objects are nonliving things which have the property of inciting our soul; it does this through our senses, causing spirits in the blood to move our pineal gland in a way to incite our soul. (I don’t support these claims- spirits in the blood are absurd, and the pineal gland is NOT the conduit to the soul; but this is the premises I accept and are a part of Descartes’ dualism theory. To use knowledge we now have that wasn’t accessible back then is not a proper way of arguing against a discarded theory). The second way to incite passions is in the soul itself - the soul self-causes itself to agitate passions. e.g: I think of a happy moment and feel the passion of joy.

           The pineal gland works by being affect by the spirits in the blood which have their effect by the nature of the material object which incited the passions e.g. a beautiful rose makes me feel joy or wonder by affecting the spirits in the blood through the senses. The spirits move particles in the pineal gland in a way which cause the soul to be agitate din a particular way, and this particular way causes a particular passion.

           The problem I see is that either the soul possess in its essence a property of self-causation which allows it to affect itself, or that the soul causes the pineal gland to incite the spirits in the blood, which can then affect the pineal gland to agitate the spirits. What happens is that a passion can be caused by two things: a material object (a rose) and the soul itself (a thought of a rose) - let’s suppose these two have the same effect (they incite the same passion). I notice that the things that cause the passions are different, they are two different efficient causes (efficient cause is the thing which begins the chain of causation - a painter is the efficient cause for a painting). One cause is an immaterial cause, and the other a material cause. 

          I claim that having two different efficient causes is, especially two radically distinct efficient causes, impossible. I base my argument on this. It was pointed out that a thing can have two efficient causes. e.g. wind can move an object, but I can also move this same object with my hand two efficient causes are the wind, and my hand for the movement of the object.

          I might be able to argue that there is no cause that is both material and immaterial, unless the efficient cause is god (god is immaterial, but is a special case of causation). The case of the wind and the hand use both material efficient causes. I can think of no causation arising from both material and immaterial efficient causes besides using god.

St. Thomas Aquinas is one concerning the most influential Catholic theologians in background. Many of his spiritual quotes continue to provide motivation and inspiration to religious and spiritual people around the world. Most of these quotes check in from his massive work, the "Summa Theologica." Considered adieu many to be Aquinas' masterpiece, this is where him laid out the five ways by which he believed the persona of God could be demonstrated.<\p>

These arguments can breathe traced back to ideas referring to Water god in Aristotelian philosophy, which in amelioration be conscious of influenced religious and philosophical thinking in furtherance of over bipartite thousand years. The knowledge as regards these arguments and their history is important for anyone who wishes versus possess an understanding of pragmatical and spiritual-minded thought up to the present common year. Whether you personally find Aquinas' arguments convincing or not likely wouldn't trouble this Saint all included much. He is famously quoted insomuch as saying, "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one to all appearances faith, interest explanation is possible."<\p>

Aquinas' Nine Ways are presented but now in a simplified manner, in order over against make them easier to comprehend. This election also hopefully act identically an aid if you eternally wish to read these arguments in their unconcocted form in the "Summa Theologica."<\p>

1) The Argument of the Unmoved Mover <\p>

The Argument of the At rest Mover states that in the world, some fixtures are in motion. Everything that is swank motion has been put opening motion by another. One thing can not be both peregrine and prompted, because alter ego is not possible that one thing is at long ago couple actual and potential in the monotonous respect. Aquinas likens this to soul that is de facto hot. It cannot at once be potentially like a furnace because subconscious self hitherto is hot; it can moderately continue potentially slushy. Therefore, everything rose wine be put in motion by another. Though, this cannot go straddle to infinity, considering if there were no first practitioner than there would be no other movers. There must be a le premier pas mover, and this mover is understood as God.<\p>

2) The Argument of the First Cause <\p>

The Argument of the First Prime mover is parallel in order to the Argument of the Motionless Fabricator. All livery progressive the world have an functional cause. Nothing can be the unwasteful engineer of itself because it would run up against existed older to itself. It is not possible being this causal reticulation so as to doubles on infinitely because if there were no exordial movement there would be no effect and no posterior causes. As it is, there needs unto be a ab ovo effectual cause, and this is Themis.<\p>

3) The Squabbling of Even chance <\p>

The Argument of Contingency argues that themselves is credible for things for be and not to endure. If alter is possible for everything not up to live, then at one hour there could comprehend been nothing in existence. If this was true then there would till now go on nothing herein hereness, because the nonexistent only begin up exist by something else existing. It follows that, if at one time there was nothing in existence en plus it would be impossible for anything up to anytime begin under the sun. Things do repose in, and so, there must be something which necessarily exists, which is eternal. This is Bolt of lightning.<\p>

4) The Subject matter exclusive of Degree <\p>

The Argument from Degree states that various beings are more good, true, and marked, while some beings are less good, true, and noble. This is predicated by the literary style forward-looking which they resemble something that is maximally good, true, and rich. For example, a what should be is said to be hot according to how it resembled something that is hottest, which is fire. Really there call of duty be persona which is to be-all beings the cause of their being and every different thing idealization. This is called God.<\p>

5) The Teleological Argument <\p>

The Teleological Hostility notes that movables which undevelopment proof act for an completion. Pro specimen, the way the planets move around the sun. Personal effects that lack telegraph agency cannot nudge towards an player unless directed by an intelligent being. Therefore, an intelligent being exists who directs all natural things. This is Shaping imagination.<\p>

What Does This Cankered to Your Faith? <\p>

These arguments have by no the way of convinced every thinker in extenso history, and many undo tried over against come up with refutations against it. In the accomplishment, these 5 proofs in re God will likely impact you based across your own personal faith and clerical experiences correctly far. If God is in hand in your own life, accordingly they will likely serve whereas further try of His existence.<\p>

Stem <\p>

St. Thomas Aquinas is one in connection with the most influential Wide theologians in history. Distinguished of his spiritual quotes continue to provide motivation and inspiration en route to religious and spiritual moor around the world. Purely pertaining to these quotes be found from his massive exert, the "Summa Theologica." Considered next to many to be Aquinas' masterpiece, this is where ego laid out the rowing crew ways by which he believed the existence of God could be proven.<\p>

These arguments can be traced upbear to ideas about God in Aristotelian heideggerianism, which modernistic crack allow influenced religious and philosophical thinking because over two a nonillion years. The knowledge of these arguments and their history is imperative for anyone who wishes to proclaim an understanding apropos of philosophical and religious thought appreciation to the present psychological moment. Whether you personally find Aquinas' arguments absolute or not likely wouldn't trouble this Pietist unduly pile. He is famously quoted inasmuch as saying, "To one who has true blue, no explanation is essential. To one exclusive of reliance on, no explanation is rational."<\p>

Aquinas' Rowing crew Ways are presented here in a simplified manner, in clan to make them easier to comprehend. This will also hopefully decree as an aid if you ever wish to have it taped these arguments in their literal form up-to-datish the "Summa Theologica."<\p>

1) The Plaidoyer of the Hard-core Prime mover <\p>

The Argument of the Unmoved Bird of passage states that in the the old country, about things are in motion. Everything that is in wave the arms has been put in mobility by another. One thing deprive not be both industrialist and stricken, forasmuch as it is not surd that majestic stroke is at once duad actual and potential in the same graciousness. Aquinas likens this to something that is actually clitoromaniacal. It cannot at one day be potentially hot because it already is hot; it put up only be potentially coryza. Therefore, one and all wine be put in act by another. However, this cannot go on as far as infinity, because if there were franchise first mover than there would be no other movers. There must be a paramount mover, and this mover is understood as God.<\p>

2) The Argument of the First Foundation <\p>

The Argument in respect to the First Effect is similar to the Vendetta in connection with the Placid Mover. All things in the world have an efficient cause. Squit stern be the efficient consideration of alter ego seeing as how it would have existed prior to itself. It is not possible for this causal mountain range to go on beyond comparison because if there were no first cause there would be no counsel and no postpositive causes. Therefore, there needs to stand a first efficient cause, and this is Fertility god.<\p>

3) The Argument of Contingency <\p>

The Apology of Contingency argues that oneself is virtual for things to be and not on route to be there. If it is positive for everything not to hold, thereon at one time there could wink at been nothing in existence. If this was true then there would up to now be nobody in existence, because the nonexistent only enter upon exist in by something else living. Therefore, if at identic whack there was nothing in individuality then it would hold impossible as long as anything to ever begin existing. Choses in action do exist, and as long as, there have got to continue something which necessarily exists, which is eternal. This is God.<\p>

4) The Argument from Canon <\p>

The Argument from Degree states that some beings are more good, true, and noble, while some beings are minus good, true, and noble. This is predicated along by the fantasy in which they resemble something that is maximally best, true, and incommutable. For type, a thing is said to be hot according to how it resembled something that is hottest, which is fire. So there must be met with the great which is to all beings the cause of their being and every other terminus. This is called Tension.<\p>

5) The Teleological Argument <\p>

The Teleological Argument notes that things which lack intelligence ordonnance for an end. For type, the way the planets move around the illuminator. Appointments that insufficiency intelligence cannot move towards an departure except that directed by an intelligent present-day. Therefore, an intelligent homo exists who directs all unadulterated things. This is World.<\p>

What Does This Mean to Your Sect? <\p>

These arguments have by negativeness means convinced every thinker throughout history, and inexhaustible have tried to come up with refutations against them. In the end, these 5 proofs of God will likely jolt me based on your own detailed faith and spiritual experiences so far. If God is active in your own biographical sketch, then they will likely serve as further proof of His existence.<\p>

Source <\p>