The Fourth Proof of God: The Argument from Gradation

Thomas Aquinas’s fourth argument for the existence of God is called the Argument from Gradation. This proof asks, “Why do we recognize some things as better, truer, or more perfect than others?” Let’s explore this idea in simple terms with relatable examples and analogies that even a high schooler can understand.

The Big Idea: Comparing Things

Have you ever said, “This cake is better than that one” or “She is the smartest in the class”? When we make comparisons like this, we’re recognizing different levels of quality, goodness, or perfection. Aquinas noticed that we constantly compare things in terms of being better, truer, or more valuable.

For example:

• A bright flashlight is better than a dim one for seeing in the dark.
• A kind person is better than a cruel one.
• A 100% on a test is better than a 50%.

But how do we know what “better” or “more perfect” means? How do we measure these things?

The Need for a Standard

Whenever we compare things, we’re using a standard. For example, if you say one flashlight is brighter than another, you’re comparing both to the idea of perfect brightness. Aquinas argued that there must be an ultimate standard of goodness, truth, and perfection against which everything else is measured. This ultimate standard, he said, is God.

An Analogy: The Temperature Scale

Imagine you’re comparing cups of water. One cup is cold, another is lukewarm, and another is hot. How do you know which is hotter or colder? You’re comparing them to the concept of perfect heat (or absolute zero for cold). God, in this analogy, is like the ultimate “perfect heat”—the highest standard of perfection.

A Real-World Example: Beauty in Nature

Think about a beautiful sunset, a flower, or a piece of music that moves you. These things are beautiful, but they’re not perfect. They’re like glimpses of something greater—a perfect beauty that we can’t fully grasp. Aquinas argued that our ability to recognize beauty points to the existence of an ultimate source of all beauty, which is God.

Clues from Our Lives: Goodness and Justice

When we say someone is “more kind” or “more just,” we’re using a standard of what perfect kindness or justice would look like. Even if we’ve never seen perfect justice in action, we understand it in our hearts. Aquinas believed this understanding comes from the ultimate source of goodness and justice—God.

Conclusion

The Argument from Gradation invites us to think about how we compare things and recognize different levels of goodness, truth, or perfection. These comparisons make sense only if there’s a highest standard against which everything else is measured. For Aquinas, this highest standard is God—the ultimate source of all goodness, truth, and beauty.

By reflecting on examples like flashlights, sunsets, and kindness, we can see how this argument points us to something beyond ourselves. It’s a logical way to think about the perfection that underlies our world.

References

• Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Benziger Bros., 1947. Available online at: New Advent.
• Feser, Edward. Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Ignatius Press, 2017.
• Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Crossway, 2008.