Cosmological Argument

Question 0

What 3 questions does the cosmological argument try to answer?

Answer 0

How did the universe begin?
Why was the universe created?
Who created the universe?

Question 1

What is the cosmological argument?

Answer 1

An argument that seeks to prove the existence of God based on the starting point that there is a universe rather than nothingness

Question 2

What does cosmos mean?

Answer 2

The world or universe as a perfect and well-ordered system. (Opposite of chaos)

Question 3

A posteriori

Answer 3

An argument based on the idea that things can be proved based on experience. Opposite of a priori argument where things are knowable independently of experience

Question 4

The God of classical theism is…

Answer 4

Eternal and separate from the universe. God created and is outside time and space. ETERNAL, IMMUTABLE, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT

Question 5

What does the term necessary existence mean?

Answer 5

When applied to God refers to the eternal and transcendent nature of God. God exists outside time and pace but is able to act within it. If God did not exist in this way then believers would say we would not exist either

Question 6

What is an efficient cause?

Answer 6

A cause that is capable of performing an action and bringing about the desired result

Question 7

What is a final cause?

Answer 7

The reason for something to be brought about

Question 8

Define teleology

Answer 8

Philosophical explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than the causes believed to be behind them

Question 9

What’s the cosmological argument also referred as?

Answer 9

‘First cause argument’

Question 10

What does the term supremely perfect mean?

Answer 10

To have all the perfections

Question 11

Infinity

Answer 11

Eternity; time without end

Question 12

What does potentiality mean?

Answer 12

The inherent but undeveloped capabilities and possibilities of someone or something for development or change

Question 13

What does actuality mean?

Answer 13

A state of being, the reality of something at this moment in time

Question 14

What does the term sufficient reason mean?

Answer 14

An adequate reason that explains the cause of an event, in this case the origin or the universe

Question 15

What does contingency mean?

Answer 15

An event or condition that depends on something else, which may or may not happen. Things do not contain the reason for their existence but depend on external causes. Exist but could just as easily not

Question 16

Define ontological

Answer 16

Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being

Question 17

What does the term temporal mean?

Answer 17

Relates to worldly rather than spiritual matters

Question 18

Define induction

Answer 18

A method of reasoning where a conclusion is reached by linking observation of cause(s) and effect(s) to draw a conclusion.

Question 19

Define philosophical logic

Answer 19

The study of the more specifically philosophical aspects of logic

Question 20

Define fallacy of composition

Answer 20

The error that concluded that since the parts have a certain property, the whole likewise has that property

Question 21

Define creationism

Answer 21

The belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as in the biblical account, rather than by natural processes such as evolution

Question 22

Define kalam

Answer 22

Arabic term meaning to ‘argue’ or ‘discuss’
Muslim scholars al -Kindi and al Ghazali developed the kalam argument to explain God’s creation of the universe. Seeks to prove that God was the first cause of the universe

Question 23

Define actual infinite

Answer 23

Set theory. Refers to sets or collections of things with an infinite number of members. It is not growing towards infinity, it is infinite already. A part within the actual infinite set is equal to the whole set.

Question 24

Define potential infinite

Answer 24

Exists if it is always possible to add one more to a series of things or events. It is possible to think of the future as a potential infinite, because more events are always being added to history

Question 25

Define ex nihilo

Answer 25

Derived from Latin meaning ‘out of nothing’

Question 26

Define natural theology

Answer 26

Knowledge of God which is obtained by reason alone, without the aid of revelation

Question 27

Define fideism

Answer 27

An idea that religious beliefs cannot be justified by rational means, only through faith

Question 28

What does Pope John Paul II say?

Answer 28

Can’t just be ‘chance’ that the universe came into existence as it is so complex. It’s like admitting effects without a cause

Question 29

Aristotles cosmological argument

Answer 29

All movement depends on there being a mover
Includes change e.g. growth, melting, cooling
Chain of events behind every movement
‘Common source’ for all substance
‘Unmoved mover’
Prime mover is perfect - God

Did not create universe
Did not sustain universe
Did not act in the universe
God had no interest in the universe

Question 30

What did Gottfried Leibniz say?

Answer 30

Developed an argument for sufficient reason. (An adequate reason that explains the cause of an event, in this case the origin of the universe)

Question 31

Define ‘in fieri’

Answer 31

Causes things to become what they are but, having started the process, is no longer involved.

Question 32

Describe ‘in ease’

Answer 32

Think of lightbulb

A cause that brings a thing into being and the cause must be sustained for that thing to continue