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

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

Answer 13

At one point, there must have been nothing

Question 14

What is the underlying assumption in Aquinas’ way three?

Answer 14

That nothing comes from nothing

Question 15

What is Copleston’s main argument?

Answer 15

There must be a sufficient REASON to explain the universe

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Holds the reason for its existence within itself

Question 17

Which argument do Russell and Hume use the cosmological argument?

Answer 17

The Fallacy of Composition

Question 18

What is the Fallacy of Composition?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

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

Answer 19

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

It is just there, and that is all

Question 21

What does Russell argue against?

Answer 21

Asking questions about why the universe exists

Question 22

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

Answer 22

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

Question 23

List Hume’s five criticisms of the cosmological argument

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How does Kant criticise the cosmological argument?

Answer 24

Because we can only experience the phenomenal world

Question 25

Give two strengths of the cosmological argument

Answer 25

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