Oh come on, it’s not under “relentless attack”, his physics was shown to be wrong a long time back, end of story. Outside of historians why would anyone care? Concentrate on what he got right.
When you challenge the fact that it has been under relentless attack, you demonstrate ignorance of the history of philosophical discussion which has taken place since the early 1700s at least and certainly as it has been going on in the last fifty years or so.
Not " end of story. " Condemning the philosophy of St. Thomas or to doubt the validity of Thomas’ Five Ways on the basis that his " physics " is wrong, is arguing against a straw man, for Thomas was not teaching " physics " or any branch of science.
He simply stated, " The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion. Now whatever is moved is moved by another, for nothing can be in motion except it is in potentiality to that towards which it is in motion; whereas a thing moves inasmuch as it is in act. For motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality. But nothing can be reduced from potentiality to actuality, except by something in a state of actuality. Thus that which is actually hot, as fire, makes wood, which is potentially hot, to be actually hot, and thereby moves and changes it. Now it is not possible that the same thing should be at once in actuality and potentiality in the same respect, but only in different respects. For what is actually hot cannot simultaneously be potentially hot; but it is simultaneously potentially cold. It is therefore impossible that in the same respect and in the same way a thing should be both mover and moved, i.e. that it should move itself. Therefore, whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God. " ( S.T. Part 1, ques 2, art 3 )
First, it is clear Thomas is not teaching science by saying, " It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are moving. " He is stating a self-evident fact. Do you or Feynman deny that it is self-evident that some things are " moving " in the world? If so, you must show that it is not self-evident to the senses that some things in the world are " moving. " You must also explain how stating that something is self-evident is " teaching science or physics. " For I am unaware that something that is self-evident is scientific data.
You must also show how stating that, " whatever is moved is moved by another " is contrary to the facts of science or that this is disproven by science.
And why should anyone care that Thomas’ proofs are and have long been under attack? Because it is an attack that is unwarranted and unjust, it based on false assumptions and it is made by those who have been and do now teach that only science has access to the truth about reality. Futher, most of those attacking the validity of the Five Ways have ulterior motives. They are desireous of disproving any argument which can lead to the conclusion that God exists. Generally, these regard Revelation as less of a threat to their godlessness than the arguments of Thomas. In fact they regard Revelation as a joke. That is why it is important to defend Thomas.
The remainder of your comments are expressions of emotion and prejudice and do not merit a response.
Linus2nd
Relentless attack? Shirley Knot. That would mean at least one philosopher leading the charge in every generation since 1700. Please list these massed hoards of philosophers.
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