Cosmological Argument Flashcards

1
Q

Name the scholars who support the CA

A

Aquinas, Copleston and Leibniz

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name the scholars who criticise the CA

A

Hume, Russell, Kant, Mackie

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

In which of his five ways does Aquinas outline the CA?

A

Ways 1, 2 and 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Aquinas’ first argument?

A

Way One - from motion (motus, change), the unmoved mover

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is Aquinas’ second argument?

A

Way Two - from causation, the uncaused causer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is Aquinas’ third argument?

A

Way Three - from necessity and contingency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is Leibniz’ principle?

A

The principle of sufficient reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does Leibniz’ principle mean?

A

A full and complete explanation for something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

In Aquinas’ first way, whose theory is he using?

A

Aristotle’s ideas of motus, actuality and potentiality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What assumption underlies Aquinas’ second way?

A

That all effects have a cause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does Aquinas suggest cannot happen, in his first two arguments?

A

Infinite regress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does infinite regress mean?

A

A chain of events going backwards forever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which example from Mackie can be used to support Aquinas?

A

The train - carriages are moved by an engine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In Aquinas’ third way, what does he suggest there must have been at one time, if all beings are contingent?

A

At one point, there must have been nothing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is an underlying assumption in Aquinas’ way three?

A

That nothing comes from nothing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which of Aquinas’ ways does Copleston build on?

A

Way Three - necessary and contingency

17
Q

Which scholars argued in the famous radio debate?

A

Copleston and Russell

18
Q

What is Copleston’s main argument?

A

There must be a sufficient reason to explain the universe

19
Q

What is Copleston’s understanding of the term “necessary”?

A

Holds the reason for its existence within itself

20
Q

What does Copleston say is the sufficient reason behind the universe?

A

God - a necessary being

21
Q

What is Copleston’s example of contingency?

A

I am contingent - I rely on my parents and air/water

22
Q

What example is used in the Copleston - Russell debate about sufficient reason?

A

Striking a match on a box to light it

23
Q

Which argument do Russell and Hume use in the CA?

A

The Fallacy of Composition

24
Q

What is fallacy of composition?

A

What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole

25
What is Russell’s example of the fallacy of composition?
Just because I have a mother, does not mean that the universe has a mother
26
What is Russell’s quote about the existence of the universe?
It is just there, and that is all
27
What does Russell argue against?
Asking questions about why the universe exists
28
How did Copleston criticise Russell after the debate?
If one refuses to sit at the chessboard, one cannot be check-mated
29
What is Hume’s most important criticism of the cosmological argument?
The assumption that every effect must have a cause, based on empirical experience and observation
30
List Hume’s five criticisms of the CA?
Cause/effect; fallacy of composition; universe could be it’s own cause; infinite regress; God of classical theism
31
How does Kant criticise the CA?
Because we only experience the phenomenal world
32
Give two strengths of the CA?
It argues from empirical evidence; it seeks to answer the question WHY is there something rather than nothing