Cosmological argument 1A

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

-Aquinas
-Argument for the existence of God
-Greek word ‘cosmos’ (order and world)
-a posteriori- existence of God can be inferred through observing cosmos
-There is a need for an uncaused entity to initiate this causation
-‘ex nihilo’
-conclusion uses a inductive reasoning- conclusion is probable

Question 2

Motion

Answer 2

-everything in motion is moved by someone else nothing can move itself
-motion is ‘the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality’
-fire and wood example
-everything in change of mover and moved is ‘parasitic’ on something else.
-to avoid infinite regress there must be a first unmoved mover

Question 3

Causation

Answer 3

-we see things that have causes
-something cant be caused itself as it would have to exist before itself
-not possible for chain of causes to go on forever
-if first cause is taken away then there will be no intermediate or final cause
-“Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect”
-there must a first uncaused cause -God

Question 4

Contingency

Answer 4

-Everything that exists has the possibility of not existing
-if this were true then at some point there would be nothing existing in the universe
-This means that there would be nothing in existence now, which would be absurd
-Must be a necessary being that exists forever and can’t not exist
-must be God