Cosmological argument Flashcards
What is inductive reasoning?
A Posteriori
What is a Posteriori?
Depending on empirical evidence to reach a possible and most probable conclusion
What evidence does the cosmological argument use?
The existing and contingent universe as the basis of suggesting an origin or first cause
Who presented the 3 arguments?
Aquinas
What were these 3 arguments based upon?
Motion, cause and contingency all need a first cause which is unmoved, uncaused and necessary
What is the first way?
Motion, there is a constant state of movement in the world but an infinite regress would mean no first mover and therefore no movement now which is illogical
Who is the prime mover?
God
What is the second way?
cause, nothing that exists could be self-caused since this would mean that it existed in order to bring itself into existence which is illogical therefore an infinite regress of causes would mean no first cause and hence no causes now
Who is the prime causer?
God
What is the third way?
Contingency, Contingent beings have the possibility of not existing therefore there must have been a time when there must have been no beings in existence and nothing can bring something into existence, therefore there is an original non-contingent being
Who is the original, non-contingent, necessary being?
God
Who developed the cosmological argument?
William Lane Craig
What is Craig’s development?
Kalam argument
What is the Kalam argument?
Originally an ancient Arabic argument based on the notion of a first cause, developed by Craig
What did Craig say?
Everything has a cause for its existence that is temporal and temporary, no scientific explanation can provide an account for the universe’s beginnings since an actual infinite is not possible, therefore everything that begins to exist has a cause and the universe began to exist therefore, the universe has a cause.
