Cosmological Argument Flashcards
everything we observe is a result of what?
cause and effect
what principle did Leibniz use?
principle of sufficient reason
what did Leibniz argue
the universe needs a complete explanation as to why it exists.
what did Aquinas believe
since the universe is God’s creation, evidence of his existence can be found using empirical evidence and reason.
what did Aquinas come up with
the three ways
- The Argument from Motion
- The Argument from Causation
- The Argument from Contingency.
The Argument from Motion
Aquinas argued that nothing can move or change by itself
The Argument from Causation
Aquinas explained that everything within the universe is the result of a succession of causes.
The Argument from Contingency.
Everything in the universe is contingent; it can exist or not exist.
who criticised the cosmological argument?
Hume and Kant
Hume’s criticisms - empirical evidence
Hume rejects the idea of cause based on empirical evidence.
Hume’s criticisms - the fallacy of composition
just because the parts within the universe have a cause, it does not follow that the whole has a cause.
Hume’s criticisms - infinite regress
they don’t except the idea of infinite regress
Hume’s criticisms - classical theism
Even if we accept the universe has a cause, this does not have to be the God of classical theism
Cosmological Argument strengths - empirical evidence
It argues from empirical evidence (a posteriori) of the motion, cause and contingency within the universe.
Cosmological Argument strengths - Why we exist
Aquinas seeks not only to explain how the universe exists but WHY.
