Cosmological Argument

Question 1

Name the scholars who support the cosmological argument

Answer 1

Aquinas, Copleston and Leibniz

Question 2

Name the scholars who criticise the cosmological argument

Answer 2

Hume, Russell, Kant, Mackie

Question 3

In which of his Five Ways does Aquinas outline the cosmological argument?

Answer 3

Ways One, Two and Three

Question 4

What is Aquinas’ first argument?

Answer 4

Way One - from motion (motus, change), the Unmoved Mover

Question 5

What is Aquinas’ second argument?

Answer 5

Way Two - from causation, the Uncaused Causer

Question 6

What is Aquinas’ third argument?

Answer 6

Way Three - from necessity and contingency

Question 7

What is Leibniz’ principle?

Answer 7

The principle of sufficient reason

Question 8

What does Leibniz’ principle mean?

Answer 8

A full and complete explanation or reason

Question 9

In Aquinas’ first way, whose theory is he using?

Answer 9

Aristotle’s ideas of motus, actuality and potentiality

Question 10

What assumption underlies Aquinas’ second way?

Answer 10

That all effects have a cause

Question 11

What does Aquinas suggest cannot happen, in his first two arguments?

Answer 11

Infinite regress

Question 12

What does infinite regress mean?

Answer 12

A chain of events going backwards forever

Question 13

Which example from Mackie can be used to support Aquinas?

Answer 13

The train - carriages are moved by an engine

Question 14

In Aquinas’ third way, what does he suggest there must have been at one time, if all beings are contingent?

Answer 14

At one point, there must have been nothing

Question 15

What is the underlying assumption in Aquinas’ way three?

Answer 15

That nothing comes from nothing

Question 16

Which of Aquinas’ ways does Copleston build on?

Answer 16

Way Three - necessary and contingency

Question 17

Which scholars argued in the famous radio debate?

Answer 17

Copleston and Russell

Question 18

What is Copleston’s main argument?

Answer 18

There must be a sufficient REASON to explain the universe

Question 19

What is Copleston’s understanding of the term “necessary”?

Answer 19

Holds the reason for its existence within itself

Question 20

What does Copleston say is sufficient reason behind the universe?

Answer 20

God - a necessary being

Question 21

What is Copleston’s example of contingency?

Answer 21

I am contingent - I rely on my parents and air/water

Question 22

What example is used in the Copleston-Russell debate about sufficient reason?

Answer 22

Striking a match on a box to light it

Question 23

Which argument do Russell and Hume use the cosmological argument?

Answer 23

The Fallacy of Composition

Question 24

What is the Fallacy of Composition?

Answer 24

What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole.

Question 25

What is Russell’s example of the Fallacy of Composition?

Answer 25

Just because I have a mother, does not mean that the universe has a mother

Question 26

What is Russell’s quote about the existence of the universe?

Answer 26

It is just there, and that is all

Question 27

What does Russell argue against?

Answer 27

Asking questions about why the universe exists

Question 28

How did Copleston criticise Russell after the debate?

Answer 28

If one refuses to sit at the chessboard, one cannot be check-mated.

Question 29

What is Hume’s most important criticism of the cosmological argument?

Answer 29

The assumption that every effect must have a cause, based on empirical experience and observation

Question 30

List Hume’s five criticisms of the cosmological argument

Answer 30

Cause/effect; fallacy of composition; universe could be its own cause; infinite regress; God of classical theism

Question 31

How does Kant criticise the cosmological argument?

Answer 31

Because we can only experience the phenomenal world

Question 32

Give two strengths of the cosmological argument

Answer 32

It argues from empirical evidence; it seeks to answer the question WHY is there something rather than nothing.