Cosmological Argument

Question 1

What does COSMOS mean

Answer 1

-Greek word meaning world/ universe

Question 2

What does Aristotle say about universe (quote)

Answer 2

“The series must start with something, since nothing can come from nothing”

Question 3

Who said God created ‘ex nihilo’ (out of nothing)

Answer 3

ST AUGUSTINE

Question 4

What are the premises of Kalam Argument (AL’KINDI)

Answer 4

P- Whatever comes into being must have a cause
P- The universe came into being
C- The universe MUST have a cause
(IMPORTANT- The cause is believed to be finite, external & personal)

Question 5

What are some challenges to Kalam Argument

Answer 5

• HUME rejects causality
• Quantum level particles appear ‘ex nihilo’
• What about INFINITE REGRESS
  BUT- WILLIAM LANE CRAIG (Infinite library)

Question 6

What is Aquinas’ FIRST WAY

Answer 6

• ALL things in motion
• Nothing can move itself
• MUST be a mover that causes ALL motion- UNMOVED MOVER is GOD

Question 7

What is Aquinas’ SECOND WAY

Answer 7

• Nothing causes itself
• Cause of chain of event can’t have cause
• UNCAUSED CAUSE is GOD

Question 8

What is Aquinas’ THIRD WAY

Answer 8

• Everything can ‘be’ or ‘not be’
• Something must NECESSARILY exist
• Must be a being “having of itself it’s own necessity’ (this being is GOD)

Question 9

What is debate between RUSSEL and COPLESTON

Answer 9

• Russell- world is a ‘brute fact’

- Copleston- God is the cause

Question 10

What is Leibniz’s PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENT REASON

Answer 10

• There is a sufficient reason for everything either within or outside itself
• MUST be a cause beyond itself for its existence
• There must be a first cause of the world that is beyond itself but its OWN SUFFICIENT REASON

Question 11

What is OCHAMS RAZOR (Quote)

Answer 11

“entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”

Question 12

Criticism of Cosmological Argument

Answer 12

• KANT- believes it rest upon Ontological Argument (he rejects that)
• BRIAN DAVIES- Reasonable to suggest first cause, but does NOT have to be God
• Could be many creators?
• How can God be the EXCEPTION to the rule?

Question 13

What is the Muslim principle of determination which Craig relies on

Answer 13

• States that any being or effect requires a being who decides the course of actions between two likely choices
• ie big/small, exist/dont exist