Cosmological Argument Flashcards
Name the scholars who support the cosmological argument
Aquinas, Copleston and Leibniz
Name the scholars who criticise the cosmological argument
Hume, Russell, Kant, Mackie
In which of his Five Ways does Aquinas outline the cosmological argument?
Ways One, Two and Three
What is Aquinas’ first argument?
Way One - from motion (motus, change), the Unmoved Mover
What is Aquinas’ second argument?
Way Two - from causation, the Uncaused Causer
What is Aquinas’ third argument?
Way Three - from necessity and contingency
What is Leibniz’ principle?
The principle of sufficient reason
What does Leibniz’ principle mean?
A full and complete explanation or reason
In Aquinas’ first way, whose theory is he using?
Aristotle’s ideas of motus, actuality and potentiality
What assumption underlies Aquinas’ second way?
That all effects have a cause
What does Aquinas suggest cannot happen, in his first two arguments?
Infinite regress
What does infinite regress mean?
A chain of events going backwards forever
Which example from Mackie can be used to support Aquinas?
The train - carriages are moved by an engine
In Aquinas’ third way, what does he suggest there must have been at one time, if all beings are contingent?
At one point, there must have been nothing
What is the underlying assumption in Aquinas’ way three?
That nothing comes from nothing
Which of Aquinas’ ways does Copleston build on?
Way Three - necessary and contingency
Which scholars argued in the famous radio debate?
Copleston and Russell
What is Copleston’s main argument?
There must be a sufficient REASON to explain the universe
What is Copleston’s understanding of the term “necessary”?
Holds the reason for its existence within itself
What does Copleston say is sufficient reason behind the universe?
God - a necessary being
What is Copleston’s example of contingency?
I am contingent - I rely on my parents and air/water
What example is used in the Copleston-Russell debate about sufficient reason?
Striking a match on a box to light it
Which argument do Russell and Hume use the cosmological argument?
The Fallacy of Composition
What is the Fallacy of Composition?
What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole.
What is Russell’s example of the Fallacy of Composition?
Just because I have a mother, does not mean that the universe has a mother
What is Russell’s quote about the existence of the universe?
It is just there, and that is all
What does Russell argue against?
Asking questions about why the universe exists
How did Copleston criticise Russell after the debate?
If one refuses to sit at the chessboard, one cannot be check-mated.
What is Hume’s most important criticism of the cosmological argument?
The assumption that every effect must have a cause, based on empirical experience and observation
List Hume’s five criticisms of the cosmological argument
Cause/effect; fallacy of composition; universe could be its own cause; infinite regress; God of classical theism
How does Kant criticise the cosmological argument?
Because we can only experience the phenomenal world
Give two strengths of the cosmological argument
It argues from empirical evidence; it seeks to answer the question WHY is there something rather than nothing.
