3.3.2 Arguments relating to the existence of God: 3 markers

Question 1

Define atemporal causation

Answer 1

Where the first cause needs to be present for the effects to take place at every moment
-> The music from the guitar only happens when fingers are applied to the strings, which only happens when the guitarist’s muscles tense, which happens when the guitarist decides to play this guitar in this way, which depends itself on the guitarist being alive and so on.

Question 2

Define the principle of sufficient reason

Answer 2

Every true fact has an explanation that provides a sufficient reason for why things are as they are and not otherwise
-> Someone getting a good grade in a philosophy exam is because they revised, not because they were just good at thinking.

Question 3

Define an infinite regress

Answer 3

A series of appropriately related members apparently goes back forever without a first member of a series.
-> This is often treated as a problem because of the intuitive notion that to get going a series has to start somewhere.