Cosmological Argument

Question 1

Describe Aquinas’ Way 1

Answer 1

Everything which is moving must have been moved by something
Since you cannot have infinite regress there must have been a first mover which cannot have been moved itself
This is God

Question 2

Describe Aquinas’ Way 2

Answer 2

Every effect has a cause
Since you cannot have infinite regress there must be a first cause which does not have a cause
This is God / Uncaused Causer

Question 3

Describe Aquinas’ Way 3

Answer 3

It is possible for contingent beings not to exist at some time.
Therefore if everything was contingent it would be possible for nothing to exist at some time
However, since things exist there must have been a necessary being - God

Question 4

Describe Hume’s first criticism

Answer 4

Inductive reasoning is flawed. Hence, there is not necessarily a link between cause and effect. We’re just making an assumption that nature is uniform. This challenges Ways 1 & 2

Question 5

Describe Hume’s second criticism

Answer 5

Fallacy of composition
Just because all the parts of the universe have a cause does not mean the universe does
Paul Edwards gives the example of the 5 Inuits visiting New York all for different reasons.

Question 6

Describe Hume’s third criticism

Answer 6

If God doesn’t need a cause then why does the universe?
There could have been overlapping periods of contingent beings rather than a single necessary being
B Russell - if nothing else but God is necessary then how can we comprehend necessary?
Challenges Ways 2 & 3

Question 7

Describe Hume’s fourth criticism

Answer 7

Why not accept infinite regress?
We can reason about things we cannot imagine or picture - e.g. infinite series
Infinite regress is logically possible
Challenges Ways 1 & 2

Question 8

Describe Hume’s fifth criticism

Answer 8

If the universe has a cause then it isn’t necessarily a God of classical theism
Could be a team of Gods, could be a deistic God

Question 9

G Leibniz

Answer 9

The principle of sufficient reason.
Even though you can explain each individual item you cannot explain the whole chain therefore you cannot have infinite regress

Question 10

FC Copleston

Answer 10

If you have contingent beings you must eventually come to a necessary being to explain their existence

Question 11

B Russell

Answer 11

There are uncaused events in the world e.g. Quantum Transistions in atoms
Why do we expect the universe to have a cause - fallacy of composition?

Question 12

Kant

Answer 12

Cause and effect is just the way we see the phenomenal world

Question 13

Wisdom’s Parable

Answer 13

Same evidence but come to different conclusions.