Cosmological Argument: Copleston vs Russell

Question 1

Copleston’s cosmological argument

Answer 1

1. Things in themselves do not explain or give a reason for their own existence.
2. Nothing in the world has in itself a reason for its own existence
3. Therefore the reason must be external to the universe.
4. The explanation must be a Being which is self-explanatory: a necessary Being, which cannot not-exist. This we call God.

Question 2

Russell’s criticism

Answer 2

• there is no reason for the universe’s existence => pointless trying to find a reason for it
  CP: unphilosophical argument to make, Copleston: “If one refuses to even sit down at the chess board and make a move, one cannot, of course, be checkmated”
• argued CA only works due to its confusion of language
• illogical step to move from reason within the universe to the reason behind the universe as a whole (just because every human being has a mother does not follow logically that humanity as a species has a mother