Evaluate the classical theistic concept of God with particular Essay

Evaluate the classical theistic concept of God with particular reference to Thomas Aquinas - Essay Example It is no surprise that Classical theistic concepts of God fundamentally propose the existence of God. But how exactly? Aristotle perceived God as the first principle, the unmoved mover, the ‘primary essence’ (Metaphysics 12.8; 1074a36-39). Thomas Aquinas depicts ‘one first immovable Being, a primary cause, necessarily existing, not created; existing the most widely, good, even the best possible; the first ruler through the intellect, and the ultimate end of all things’ (Aquinas 1270, art.III). One can begin here to see the entirety with which classical theists tend to view the extent of the existence of God. It appears primarily elusive, but it seems that this very elusiveness fuels its rigorous withstanding against criticisms. But can one capture a more specific concept of omnipotence, of the deeper concept of the existence of God? Omnipotence, being the central concept of God’s existence, requires a more thorough definition in order to evaluate its resilience (or failing) against alternative theories. While one recognises that the task at hand is not to merely describe how Aquinas depicts the existence of God, and which arguments he refers to in order to strengthen his theory, it is also valuable in understanding further his theory. For, in order to criticise a theory, one must attempt to understand, and thus analyse it in all of its splendour. One cannot deny that Aquinas does indeed adopt an interesting stance; he expresses what God is not, and in doing so, provides a beautifully crafted set of attributes, of which God is. Concerning his main work on the issue, Summa Theologica, one grasps the strength with which he approaches and then deals with the difficult issue of plausibly testifying to the existence of God. But by predicting criticisms and answering them thus, he not only testifies to the existence of God, but builds a fortress of reason around it, preventing immediate weakening attacks from critics. Omnipotence is maximal