3. Arguing for God’s Existence (SCG 1,13)
Arguing for God’s Existence (SCG 1,13)
AQUINAS BEGINS SCG 1,13 by writing: “We have now shown that the effort to demonstrate the existence of God is not a vain one. We shall therefore proceed to set forth the arguments by which philosophers and Catholic teachers have proved that God exists.”1 These arguments make up the contents of SCG 1,13, most of which is given over to a defense of thinking that Aquinas derives from Aristotle.2 Aquinas and Aristotle are obviously not of one mind when it comes to the meaning of “God exists” since Aquinas, as a Christian, holds beliefs about God that Aristotle never did. Yet in SCG 1,13 Aquinas is obviously drawing on Aristotle’s thinking, or on what he presumes this to be. So let me now explain how he does so.