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Philosophy > Cosmological Argument > Flashcards

Cosmological Argument Flashcards

1
Q

Aquinas Way One

A

From Motion

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2
Q

Aquinas Way One (7)

A
  1. We see that some things are in a process of change/ motion
  2. Everything in motion is in the process of changing from a potential state to an actual state
  3. Something can’t be potential and actual at the same time
  4. Everything that moves is moved by something else
  5. Infinite regress is impossible
  6. There must be a Prime Mover that isn’t moved
  7. This is God
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3
Q

Who developed the Theory of Causation?

A

Aristotle

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4
Q

Theory of Causation

A

Aristotle argued that because things are constantly changing, they must be moving towards something. There must be an end. He argued that something either has the potential to fulfil its purpose or has actually fulfilled it.

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5
Q

What are the 4 causes in the Theory of Causation?

A
  1. Material - What something is made of
  2. Efficient - The external agent e.g. carpenter
  3. Formal - The shape something takes
  4. Final - it’s final purpose
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6
Q

What did Aristotle believe in relation to Aquinas’ Way One?

A
  1. God was the ‘Prime Mover’
  2. The ‘Prime Mover’ kept the Universe in order
  3. The ‘Prime Mover’ isn’t an all-powerful being and can’t intervene in people’s lives
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7
Q

What book did Aquinas write?

A

Aquinas: Summa Theologiae: 1273 AD

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8
Q

Aquinas Way One (Quotation)

A

‘It is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other, and this everyone understands to be God’.

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9
Q

Aquinas Way Two

A

Nature of Efficient Cause

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10
Q

Aquinas Way Two (5)

A
  1. We see that every effect has a cause
  2. Nothing can cause itself
  3. Infinite regress is impossible
  4. There must be a First Cause
  5. This is God
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11
Q

What’s the difference between Aquinas’ Way One and Aquinas’ Way Two?

A

Way One is about things being acted on

Way Two is about things acting on others

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12
Q

God as Sustainer

A

God’s existence is keeping things going - without God there would be nothing. This proves the existence of God.

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13
Q

What does Aquinas’ Way Two believe with the cause of the Universe?

A
  1. The Universe is subject to the laws of the Universe so it must have a cause
  2. As nothing can cause itself, the cause of the Universe must be outside of the Universe
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14
Q

Aquinas’ Way Two (Quotation)

A

‘It is necessary to admit a first efficient cause to which everyone gives the name of God’

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15
Q

Aquinas Way Three

A

From Contingency and Necessity

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16
Q

Aquinas’ Way Three (8)

A
  1. Things are contingent - they either exist or they don’t
  2. If everything was contingent and time was infinite then nothing would exist now
  3. Infinite regress is impossible
  4. Something can’t come from nothing so there must be a being that isn’t contingent
  5. There must be a Necessary Being that isn’t God (Angels)
  6. Everything necessary must be caused (Angels) or uncaused (God)
  7. There must be a Necessary Being that contains it’s own necessity
  8. This is God
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17
Q

What Aquinas believe about time?

A
  1. There was no way of establishing that the Universe had a beginning in time
  2. He believed his argument established the need for the Universe to be dependent on God
  3. The idea of God may be closer to a ‘God of Philosophers’ than a Christian God.
18
Q

Aquinas Way Three (Quotation)

A

‘In the world of sense we find that there’s an order of efficient cause’.

19
Q

Who formulated the original Kalam Argument?

A

Islamic Philosopher al Ghazali (1058 -1111 AD)

20
Q

What did al Ghazali believe?

A
  1. That God’s essence includes existence

2. The Universe depends on God for its existence

21
Q

Original Kalam Argument (5)

A
  1. Everything that exists has a cause of its existence - including the Universe
  2. Infinite regress is impossible
  3. The Universe must have started somewhere
  4. There was once no Universe
  5. Something is required for the Universe to start`
22
Q

What did William Craig argue?

A

That the Universe can’t be infinite because you can’t add to an actual infinite amount.

23
Q

What book did Craig write and when?

A

‘The Kalam Cosmological Argument’ in 1979

24
Q

Kalam Cosmological Argument (10)

A
  1. ‘Now’ exists
  2. Therefore time is a potential infinite - not an actual infinite
  3. Therefore the Universe must have a beginning
  4. Whatever exists must have a cause
  5. The Universe has a cause
  6. The cause of the Universe is either naturally caused or uncaused by nature
  7. Before the Universe there were no laws of nature
  8. Therefore the Universe must have been ‘personally’ caused - not naturally
  9. The cause of the Universe must have existed outside the Universe
  10. The cause of the Universe must be a ‘personal’ being who freely chose to create the Universe
25
Q

What do steps 1-5 of the Kalam Cosmological Argument aim to do?

A

Prove that the Universe has a cause

26
Q

What do steps 6-10 of the Kalam Cosmological Argument aim to do?

A

Prove that God is personal creator

27
Q

Actual Infinity

A

A mathematical concept from set theory

28
Q

Zeno’s Paradox

A

A man walks half the distance between A and B. No matter how many times he repeats this, he will never reach B.

29
Q

Potential Infinity

A

Events are being added to the sum total

There’s a beginning to time and time moves forwards infinitely

30
Q

Miller Kalam Argument (8)

A
  1. An infinite Universe would have an infinite number of days
  2. There would be no end, we couldn’t reach an infinite number of days
  3. Therefore, we would never reach today
  4. Time began when the Universe began
  5. Events are caused
  6. The beginning of the Universe was an event
  7. Therefore there must have been a cause
  8. This is God, God was the First Cause
31
Q

Hume’s Criticism One

A

We can’t assume there is a law of cause and effect

We only assume this because of our experiences

32
Q

Hume’s Criticism Two

A

Why can’t the Universe be self-caused?

Why can’t we give the characteristics of a universe-creating God to the Universe?

33
Q

Hume’s Criticism Three

A

There could just be an infinite regress of causes - this wouldn’t require an external God

34
Q

Hume’s Criticism Four

A

It’s a contradiction to say that all things are contingent and then claim that God is necessary
Why can’t God be contingent?

35
Q

Hume’s Criticism Five

A

Fallacy of Composition - We can’t conclude the Universe has a cause just because things in the Universe have a cause

36
Q

Kenny’s Criticisms

A

It’s possible for an object to contain its own movement e.g. nothing external to me is required to make me walk

37
Q

Davies Criticism One

A

Craig is wrong to assume that everything that exists has a beginning (e.g. electrons)

38
Q

Davies Criticism Two

A

Aquinas is wrong to assume that if everything was contingent and time was infinite, nothing would exist
Maybe the moment hasn’t occurred yet?

39
Q

Davies Criticism Three

A

Just because something is contingent, it doesn’t mean it will cease to exist (e.g. my cat is kickable but that doesn’t mean i’ll kick it)

40
Q

Strengths of the Kalam Argument

A
  1. Clearly there is evidence of cause and effect in the Universe
  2. Stephen Hawking, ‘so long as the Universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator’
  3. The Big Bang suggests that the Universe had a start

Philosophy (5 decks)

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