Before revision: Background Need for demonstration of the existence of God Aquinas did not think the finite human mind could know what God is directly, therefore God's existence is not self-evident to us, although it is self-evident in itself.ST, I, Q 2, A 1 (Latin and English) On the other hand, he also rejected the idea that God's existence cannot be demonstrated: although it is impossible to give a so-called demonstration, going from the causes to the effects; nevertheless the proposition God exists can be "demonstrated" from God's effects, which are more known to us, through a so-called demonstration.ST, I, Q 2, A 2 (Latin and English) However, Aquinas did not hold that what could be demonstrated philosophically (i.e.
After revision: Background Need for demonstration of the existence of God Aquinas thought the finite human mind could know what God is directly, therefore God's existence is not self-evident to us, although it is self-evident in itself.ST, I, Q 2, A 1 (Latin and English) On the other hand, he also rejected the idea that God's existence cannot be demonstrated: although it is impossible to give a so-called demonstration, going from the causes to the effects; still,not the proposition God exists can be "demonstrated" from God's effects, which are more known to us, through a so-called demonstration.ST, I, Q 2, A 2 (Latin and English) However, Aquinas did not hold that what could be demonstrated philosophically (i.e.