COSMOLOGICAL

Question 1

What do cosmological arguments claim to demonstrate?

Answer 1

That the universe cannot account for its own existence.

Question 2

Where do the cosmological arguments root from?

Answer 2

Plato, who argued that everything must have been created by some cause and by Aristotle’s unmoved mover.

Question 3

What did Aquinas produce to support his cosmological argument?

Answer 3

His Five Ways, in ‘Summa Theologica.’

Question 4

What is Aquinas’ argument based on?

Answer 4

A posteriori evidence.

Question 5

What is Aquinas’ basic argument?

Answer 5

The universe cannot account for its own existence; there must be a reason for why it is here.

Question 6

What is the first of Aquinas’ five ways?

Answer 6

The First Way - The ‘unmoved mover’ - motion.

Question 7

What is the second of Aquinas’ five ways?

Answer 7

The Second Way - the ‘uncaused causer’ - causation.

Question 8

What is the third of Aquinas’ five ways?

Answer 8

The Third Way - ‘Necessity’ - a necessary being.

Question 9

Who was Copleston?

Answer 9

Invited to argue for theism and was a Jesuit priest.

Question 10

Who was Russell?

Answer 10

Philosopher of Maths and was invited to argue for the atheist position.

Question 11

What did Leibinz argue?

Answer 11

He argued that part of explaining the truth of a fact, or the existence of something was to also explain why it is like that and not different.

Question 12

What was Russell’s argument?

Answer 12

Did not need to accept the need for an explanation of the universe.

Question 13

What was Copleston’s argument?

Answer 13

Argued that unless one accepts the existence of an unmoved mover then there is no explanation for the universe.

Question 14

What was Hume’s criticism of the Cosmological argument?

Answer 14

He contended that just because everything in our world is governed by cause and effect, does not mean that the universe has to have cause.

Question 15

What did Hume describe God as?

Answer 15

An “arbitrary act of the mind.”

Question 16

Give two strengths of the argument.

Answer 16

1) Swinburne: contends that it offers some explanation of how the world came to be.
2) It’s an a posteriori argument, so it is based on Aquinas’ empirical observations.

Question 17

Give two weaknesses of the argument.

Answer 17

1) David Hume asked why the Prime Mover has to be identified with the Christian God.
2) J L Mackie: No need for a Prime Mover as there might be a case for infinite regress.

Question 18

What two assumptions did Aquinas base his argument upon?

Answer 18

1. the universe exists.

2. there must be a reason why.

Question 19

What does Aquinas state about the first way in Summa Theologica?

Answer 19

“Therefore, whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another.”

Question 20

What does Aquinas state in Summa Theologica about the second way?

Answer 20

“In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes.”

Question 21

What question did Leibniz raise?

Answer 21

“why is there something rather than nothing?”

Question 22

What did Leibniz form his cosmological argument on?

Answer 22

His ‘Principle of Sufficient Reason’.

Question 23

What is said according to the Principle of Sufficient Reason?

Answer 23

If something exists, there must be a reason why that thing exists.

Question 24

What did Leibniz argue about eternally?

Answer 24

It made no difference whether something was eternal or not - we still need a reason for it.

Question 25

What did Hume state about the analogy of the watch?

Answer 25

The analogy is weak as characteristics of purpose and design might be obvious in a watch, but they are not nearly so obvious in the world.

Question 26

What did Hume state about the world having order?

Answer 26

Does not necessarily mean that someone must have had the idea of the design.

Question 27

What is infinite regress?

Answer 27

A chain of causes and effects going back infinitely.

Question 28

Why is the causer uncaused?

Answer 28

To avoid infinite regression.

Question 29

Which theory argues that the universe started from the re-distribution of energy?

Answer 29

Steady State theory.

Question 30

What does Russell argue against the idea of ‘motherhood’?

Answer 30

Every man has a mother is not proof the human race has a mother.

Question 31

Which fallacy is the example of the 20 particles used for?

Answer 31

Fallacy of Composition.

Question 32

What is the Fallacy of Affirmation of the Consequent?

Answer 32

We assume there is a relationship between cause and effect.

Question 33

What does Leibniz say?

Answer 33

There cannot be more in the effect than there is in the cause.

Question 34

What is Aquinas’ overall argument?

Answer 34

That everything in the universe is contingent (necessary existence).

Question 35

What is a criticism of both cosmological and teleological?

Answer 35

They involve what is known as ‘hypothetical reasoning’.