Cosmological

Question 1

What are the structural features of the Cosmological argument?

Answer 1

1. Aposteriori
2. Inductive

Question 2

What is a contingent being?

Answer 2

something which depends on something else for its initial cause and continued existence

Question 3

What is a necessary being?

Answer 3

something which depends on nothing for its initial cause and continued existence

Question 4

What is the absurdity of infinite regress?

Answer 4

A chain of events, in linear time, can’t go back infinitely

Question 5

What is Aquinas’ 3rd way?

Answer 5

1. Every material thing in the universe is a contingent being (not eternal)
2. If everything was a contingent being, then at some point in the past nothing existed
3. Nothing comes from nothing, but things do exist
4. all things in our universe came into being, so our universe must have also come into being
5. every contingent being was bought about by another being, but that can’t be contingent, otherwise there would be infinite regress, which can’t happen

Conclusion: There must be something that doesn’t exist contingently. A primary uncaused causer (necessary being).

Question 6

What is Russel’s first criticism of the cosmological argument + response?

Answer 6

The fallacy of composition (assuming that what is true of the parts must also be true of the whole.

e.g. bricks are small, but a wall isn’t

Just cause everything in our universe is a contingent being, doesn’t mean the universe itself is contingent.
The universe could just be a BRUTE FACT (necessary).

Reply: Sometimes what is true of the parts is also true of the whole. It all depends on the property that we are referring to. In terms of the universe, we will never know for sure.

1. The universe is just a collection of contingent things
2. there was a time when there was no contingent beings
3. there was a time when the universe didn’t exist

Science supports this claim, through the conservation of energy (can’t be created or destroyed).

It also contradicts by saying that the big bang occurred 14bn years ago.

Question 7

What are Hume’s attacks on the cosmological argument?

Answer 7

1. God isn’t truly a necessary being

1) If God is a necessary being, then he must exist by logical necessity
2) there is no logical contradiction in saying that ‘God doesn’t exist’
3) Therefore, God doesn’t exist necessarily

Response: Aquinas only says that God is metaphysically necessary, not logically

2. Even if it proves God’s existence, it may be some deist force.
   This necessary being may be the laws of physics, an evil demon etc.
   No need for an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient creator. Only a first un caused cause.

Response: Swinburne-
the universe was created 14 bn years ago, so whatever brought it into being must be beyond space, matter and time (spiritual, infinite and eternal).
Combine this with the the other arguments for the existence of God, religious exp and miracles, it starts to appear like the Theist God.

Question 8

What is the conclusion for the cosmological argument?

Answer 8

1. Value for believers
2. it isn’t certain proof, but is anything beyond reasonable doubt
3. WJ believe in vs that
4. used in accordance with miracles, r exp and other arguments for the existence of God.