Cosmological Argument

Question 1

From looking at the __________ we can deduce God’s existence.

Answer 1

universe

Question 2

Which philosopher is associated with the CA and what were his dates?

Answer 2

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)

Question 2

Which book did Aquinas set out his CA?

Answer 2

Summa Theologia

Question 3

How many ways did Aquinas set out to demonstrate God’s existence? How many are relevant to the CA?

Answer 3

5, 3 are needed

Question 4

What is the first way of Aquinas’ CA?

Answer 4

Motion

Question 5

Explain Aquinas’ first way of CA

Answer 5

Things are constantly in motion, changing from potentiality to actuality.
Must be something that causes this change. (Prime Mover)
This is God
‘It is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other’

Question 6

What is the second way of Aquinas’ CA?

Answer 6

Causation

Question 7

Explain Aquinas’ second way of CA

Answer 7

Everything has a cause
Causes can’t continue backwards forever
First efficient cause must be God
Cannot be potentially and actually the same thing
The Prime causer is ‘pure act’ that stops infinite regression
Has to be ‘pure act’ being somewhere i.e. God

Question 8

Why did Hume reject Aquinas’ argument from causation? What were his dates?

Answer 8

No proof of every event/thing having a cause, it is illogical
“Whatever has a beginning of existence must have a cause” is not certain; ASSUMPTIONS
The fallacy of composition - you cant assume the universe has a cause just because contingent things within it do
(1711-1776)

Question 9

What is the third way of Aquinas’ CA?

Answer 9

Contingency

Question 10

Explain Aquinas’ third way of CA

Answer 10

Some things may or may not exist.
Must’ve been a time when a greater being existed necessarily, i.e. God
There has to be something with a necessary existence and cannot fail to exist.

Question 11

How did Kant criticise Aquinas’ third way?

Answer 11

Kant rejected the idea of necessary existence (similar to his rejection of Anselm)

Question 12

How did Mackie criticise Aquinas’ third way?

Answer 12

Rejected the idea that if something doesn’t have a predicate it must have some supreme greater ruler. Why should this be accepted?

Question 13

What do the 3 ways achieve?

Answer 13

Demonstrates the existence between a first efficient cause and a prime mover of the universe that is pure actuality.

Question 14

What year was the Russel-Copleston debate?

Answer 14

1947

Question 15

What did Copleston say?

Answer 15

Drew from Aquinas.
Universe can only be explained by reference to God.
God is ‘his own sufficient cause’
Explaining why there is a universe is important.

Question 16

What did Russell say?

Answer 16

Rejected Copleston’s argument.
Explanation of the universe is beyond our reach.
An explanation that goes beyond the universe is unexplainable.
‘I should say that the universe is there and that’s all.’