COSMOLOGICAL Flashcards
What do cosmological arguments claim to demonstrate?
That the universe cannot account for its own existence.
Where do the cosmological arguments root from?
Plato, who argued that everything must have been created by some cause and by Aristotle’s unmoved mover.
What did Aquinas produce to support his cosmological argument?
His Five Ways, in ‘Summa Theologica.’
What is Aquinas’ argument based on?
A posteriori evidence.
What is Aquinas’ basic argument?
The universe cannot account for its own existence; there must be a reason for why it is here.
What is the first of Aquinas’ five ways?
The First Way - The ‘unmoved mover’ - motion.
What is the second of Aquinas’ five ways?
The Second Way - the ‘uncaused causer’ - causation.
What is the third of Aquinas’ five ways?
The Third Way - ‘Necessity’ - a necessary being.
Who was Copleston?
Invited to argue for theism and was a Jesuit priest.
Who was Russell?
Philosopher of Maths and was invited to argue for the atheist position.
What did Leibinz argue?
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.
What was Russell’s argument?
Did not need to accept the need for an explanation of the universe.
What was Copleston’s argument?
Argued that unless one accepts the existence of an unmoved mover then there is no explanation for the universe.
What was Hume’s criticism of the Cosmological argument?
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.
What did Hume describe God as?
An “arbitrary act of the mind.”
Give two strengths of the argument.
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.
Give two weaknesses of the argument.
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.
What two assumptions did Aquinas base his argument upon?
- the universe exists.
2. there must be a reason why.
What does Aquinas state about the first way in Summa Theologica?
“Therefore, whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another.”
What does Aquinas state in Summa Theologica about the second way?
“In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes.”
What question did Leibniz raise?
“why is there something rather than nothing?”
What did Leibniz form his cosmological argument on?
His ‘Principle of Sufficient Reason’.
What is said according to the Principle of Sufficient Reason?
If something exists, there must be a reason why that thing exists.
What did Leibniz argue about eternally?
It made no difference whether something was eternal or not - we still need a reason for it.
