Thomas Aquinas

1225–1274 Catholic

Since nature works for a determinate end under the direction of a higher agent, whatever is done by nature must needs be traced back to God, as to its first cause. So also whatever is done voluntarily must also be traced back to some higher cause other than human reason or will, since these can change or fail; for all things that are changeable and capable of defect must be traced back to an immovable and self-necessary first principle.

Source details
1268 · Summa Theologica I, q. 2, a. 3, reply to obj. 2 — the reply that nature is traced back to God

Checked word-for-word against Summa Theologica · 2026-07-18

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