Cosmological Argument Flashcards
Aquinas’ starting quote
“To take away the cause (God) is to take away the effect (the universe)”
3 Premises & Conclusion
Nothing happens by itself
Universe has a cause
Only a God can cause a universe
As universe exists, God must exist
First Way - Prime Mover & Motion in the Broadest Sense
Movement of other things Potentiality-Actuality E.g wood Chain of events behind movement No infinite regression First unmoved mover
Second Way - First cause
Everything needs a cause No infinite regression Must be uncaused first cause Omnipotent E.g person Ex-nihilo
Third way - Necessary Being
Everything contingent Must be time when nothing existed Nothing comes from nothing External cause of universe Eg painter
Define infinite regression
Chain of causes and effects going back for eternity
Define ex-nihilo
Something out of nothing
Define contingent
Dependant on something else for its existence
Ockham’s Razor (strength)
Slices irrelevant details cuts to most likely answer
“entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”
Simplest conclusion most likely answer
God created universe: simplest answer so most likely
A Posteriori (strength)
Existing evidence
Draws on cause & effect - we can experience
Also solution for universe
God of Revealed Theology (strength)
‘The creator of mankind and the universe’ - Genisis 1, John 1
Big Bang Theory (strength)
Must have reason for it
Hume (weakness)
Why creator? Simpler to argue for universe without one
Empiricist
No connection cause & effect. Imagination
Observed world & considered universe existence - separate events - mind made connection; Made inductive leap
Kant (weakness)
Empiricist
Cause for everything only applies to world of sense experience
Cannot apply to something not experienced
God outside time & space
No justification for conclusion
Anthony Kenny (weakness)
Aquinas: nothing moves itself
But animals & people move themselves