Thomas Aquinas 5 ways

Degrees of Perfection argument

Thomas Aquinas's argument that variations in qualities like goodness and truth point to a maximum standard and ultimate source, which is God.

Key qualities evaluated in Aquinas's Fourth Way

Goodness, truth, nobility, beauty, and perfection

Logical sequence of the Fourth Way

Degrees → maximum → source → God

Definition of 'degrees' in the Fourth Way

The state of things being more or less good, true, noble, beautiful, or perfect relative to one another.

Definition of 'maximum' in the Fourth Way

The highest degree or absolute standard of a quality.

Implication of a maximum in Aquinas's philosophy

It acts as the original cause and source that imparts those qualities to all other things.

The ultimate source of perfection identified by Aquinas

God

Example illustrating degrees of perfection

A human can be good to a certain degree, whereas God is understood as perfectly good.

Concise summary of the Degrees of Perfection argument

Varying degrees of qualities require a maximum standard, and that maximum standard must be the source of those qualities, which is God.