Analyzing Aquinas 'Argument The First Way'
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The first way focuses on motion. Aquinas argument is an A posterior argument. Everything that we observe in the world has been placed in motion. Nothing has placed itself in motion. An object which is in motion has to be put in motion by something else. Aquinas says an infinite chain of things-in-motion can’t exist. If an infinite regress existed among things-in-motion and things-causing-things-to-be-in-motion then we could not account for the motion we observe. Things moving must have a starting point. Thus, there must be a First Cause which set all other things in motion. An example would be wood has the potential to burn. However this will actually only happen if someone puts it on fire. So the potential for this wood to become warm is due