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Aquinas' Second Way: First Cause

Formulation​

  1. Some things are caused.
  2. Everything that is caused is caused by something else.
  3. An infinite regress of causes is impossible.
  4. Therefore, there must be a first cause, an uncaused cause, that is not caused by anything else (God). (2, 3)

This argument is similar to the First Way, but instead of focusing on motion, it focuses on causation. This argument falls to the same objections as the First Way, such as the act-potency distinction, eternalism, and pluralism about beings.