Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Crash Course Catholicism
Crash Course Catholicism · September 21 · 14 min

Catechism 101: The Argument from Gradation

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Fourth Way: the Argument from Gradation, or Degree. This is perhaps the most challenging of Aquinas' Five Ways. Beginning with the observation that things possess qualities like truth and goodness to varying degrees, Aquinas asks what makes these comparisons possible. Ultimately, he argues that these degrees of perfection point towards a reality that possesses maximal truth, goodness, and being. In this episode, we discuss: What Aquinas means by "degrees" of truth and goodness Why goodness isn't limited to moral goodness How truth and goodness are inseperable from existence Why comparing degrees of perfection points towards a maximum The difference between possessing a perfection partially and possessing it fundamentally Why Aquinas thinks limited or "borrowed" being requires an ultimate source Why the source of all being must be the source of everything else that exists This episode is part of our series exploring St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways and the classical philosophical arguments for the existence of God. SUPPORT THE PODCAST This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links: Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2⁠⁠ Support on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwest⁠⁠ Contact: ⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠

0:00-14:39
Play in

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Fourth Way: the Argument from Gradation, or Degree.


This is perhaps the most challenging of Aquinas' Five Ways. Beginning with the observation that things possess qualities like truth and goodness to varying degrees, Aquinas asks what makes these comparisons possible. Ultimately, he argues that these degrees of perfection point towards a reality that possesses maximal truth, goodness, and being.


In this episode, we discuss:


  • What Aquinas means by "degrees" of truth and goodness
  • Why goodness isn't limited to moral goodness
  • How truth and goodness are inseperable from existence
  • Why comparing degrees of perfection points towards a maximum
  • The difference between possessing a perfection partially and possessing it fundamentally
  • Why Aquinas thinks limited or "borrowed" being requires an ultimate source
  • Why the source of all being must be the source of everything else that exists


This episode is part of our series exploring St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways and the classical philosophical arguments for the existence of God.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:

Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2⁠⁠

Support on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwest⁠⁠

Contact: ⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠

links4

more episodes

All episodes