2.1 | Arguments for the existence of God- Inductive

Question 1

Cosmos

Answer 1

The universe as a system with an order and harmonious pattern

Question 2

A posteriori

Answer 2

Based on experience/ empirical evidence

Question 3

Empirical

Answer 3

Sensory/ physical evidence from within the world

Question 4

Inductive

Answer 4

Argument constructed on true premises reaching a logically possible and persuasive conclusion

Question 5

St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Three Ways

Answer 5

1. Movement/ Change
2. Cause and Effect
3. Contingency and Necessity

Question 6

Infinite Regress

Answer 6

Sequence that can be traced back and back but never comes to an end

Question 7

Potentiality

Answer 7

The inherent but underdeveloped capabilities and the possibilities of someone/ something for development/ change

Question 8

Actuality

Answer 8

State of being, the reality of something at this moment of time

Question 9

Efficient Cause

Answer 9

Activity that brings about changes

Question 10

Contingent

Answer 10

Dependent upon other things or other circumstances

Question 11

Necessary Being

Answer 11

A being that is not dependent (independent) on something for in existence

Question 12

Aquinas’ first way

Answer 12

MOVEMENT + CHANGE

• “Nothing can be reduced by potentiality to actuality; except by something that is in the state of actuality”
• Wood is actually cold but has the potential to become hot- only with heat, this doesn’t happen spontaneously
• There must be a first unmoved mover, there is no such thing as infinite regress - God

Question 13

Aquinas’ Second Way

Answer 13

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Question 14

Aquinas’ Third Way

Answer 14

CONTINGENCY AND NECESSITY

Question 15

The Kalam Argument (William Lane Craig)

Answer 15

Denial of infinite regress

Personal God

Question 16

Craig’s denial of infinite regress

Answer 16

The universe is finite

the present wouldn’t exist in an infinite

successive additions can’t be added to an infinite; it would then be a potential infintite

Infinite library
Red books = black books is accepted
Red books + black books= red books cannot be accepted
You can’t add to an infinite

Question 17

Craig’s idea of a personal being

Answer 17

God is an agent of causation

Natural law didn’t exist prior to the universe- so it could have come about naturally

“The cause of the universe must be a personal being who freely chooses to create the universe”

Question 18

Humes Challenges to Cosmological Argument

Answer 18

Empirical objections

Fallacy of Composition

Anthropomorphite Argument

Critique of Causes

Question 19

Empirical Objections

Answer 19

Cosmological argument does not use empirical evidence

There does not need to be a first cause- universe could be infinite

Matter could be necessary or eternal

Question 20

Anthropomorphite Argument

Answer 20

Like causes have like effects

Could the cause of the universe be finite?

Question 21

Fallacy of composition

Answer 21

What is true for parts doesn’t need to be true for the whole

Just because parts of the universe is caused doesn’t mean the universe is caused

Bertrand Russel- turkey analogy

Question 22

Critique of Cause

Answer 22

We have never witnessed the universes creation

We don’t know if it was caused

Question 23

Aquinas’ Teleological Argument

Answer 23

5th way

Qua Purpose

Qua regularity

Question 24

Qua regularity

Answer 24

Qua- relating to

Regularity of natural bodies
Entity gave it purpose

Requires intellectual supervision

Not luck

Eg. Seasons, orbiting planets, tides

Question 25

Qua Purpose

Answer 25

Everything in nature acts with a purpose

All aim towards a goal

Requires intellectual supervision

Inanimate objects can’t decide to flow

Question 26

Archer analogy

Answer 26

Whatever lacks knowledge can’t move without knowledge

God is an intelligent being

Inanimate things need intelligence