Cosmological arguments

Question 1

State Aquinas’ first way

Answer 1

1. Evident to our senses in motion, we can see things are moved
2. These things require something else to be moved as they can’t move by themselves
3. A chain of movement can’t go on forever
4. Therefore, a First Mover exists

Question 2

Scientific responses to Aquinas’ first way

Answer 2

For:
Big Bang theory suggests the universe had to have had a beginning. This is because since we can observe the universe is expanding and getting cooler, if we rewind time, it must have been getting smaller and hotter. If we rewind so much to the beginning of time, we must have had an infinitely hot, and small singularity which one day exploded and cooled to make the universe.
1929 observations of Hubble at Mount Wilson observatory confirms the theory of the expansion of the universe because of the light of distant galaxies which seemed to be getting redder which may be explained by the stretching of their light waves and thus, moving away from us.
Against:
Steady State Theory states that whilst the universe is expanding, the density of the universe doesn’t change due to continuous creation of matter— so no end or beginning
Loop Theory proposes, that in each cycle, the universe refills with hot, dense matter and radiation which brings a universe of expansion and cooling. After 14 billion years, the expansion accelerates, as we can observe, and after trillions of years, the matter and radiation are almost completely dissipated and the expansion sops. An energy field pervades the universe and creates new matter and radiation, continuing the cycle

Question 3

Philosophical responses to Aquinas’ first way

Answer 3

For

Gottfried Leibniz argues that sufficient reason principle requires an external explanation even if the universe is infinite, since the universe can’t explain its own existence

Against:
By principle of simplicity, isn’t it more reasonable to suppose that objects in motion have always existed than to suppose they cane from something
Hume argues that we can’t trust our perception of cause and effect as it could it be an illusion
Fallacy of composition, just because parts of the universe have a mover, doesn’t mean the universe needs a mover

Question 4

State Aquinas’ 2nd way & main objection

Answer 4

1. Things that exist are contingent
2. The universe is made entirely of contingent things
3. The universe is contingent
4. The universe needs an external explanation of a necessary being
   Objection: fallacy of composition

Question 5

State Aquinas’ third way & main objection

Answer 5

1. Everting that exists has a cause of its existence
2. The universe exists
3. The universe has a cause of its existence
4. Therefore, the cause is God
   Objection: Bertrand Russel asks about the cause of God, since Aquinas argues He exists— fallacy of composition

Question 6

What is Leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason?

Answer 6

1. Everything that exists has an explanation of its existence, either in their necessity of it’s own nature or in an external explanation
2. The universe has an explanation of its existence and that explanation is grounded in a necessary being
3. The universe exists
4. The universe has an explanation of its existence
5. Therefore, the explanation of the existence of the universe is grounded in a necessary being

For the universe ti be necessary, it must be changeless and eternal.

Question 7

Scientific responses to Leibniz

Answer 7

For:

Big Bang theory suggests the universe had to have had a beginning. This is because since we can observe the universe is expanding and getting cooler, if we rewind time, it must have been getting smaller and hotter. If we rewind so much to the beginning of time, we must have had an infinitely hot, and small singularity which one day exploded and cooled to make the universe.
1929 observations of Hubble at Mount Wilson observatory confirms the theory of the expansion of the universe because of the light of distant galaxies which seemed to be getting redder which may be explained by the stretching of their light waves and thus, moving away from us.
Heisenberg uncertainty principle shows different measure of particles could have been determined by an observer resulting in different outcomes
Kochen-Specker theorem states that the outcome obtained depends on the context at that time and can’t be predicted.
Therefore, the universe isn’t changeless
Against:
Steady State Theory states that whilst the universe is expanding, the density of the universe doesn’t change due to continuous creation of matter— so no end or beginning
Loop Theory proposes, that in each cycle, the universe refills with hot, dense matter and radiation which brings a universe of expansion and cooling. After 14 billion years, the expansion accelerates, as we can observe, and after trillions of years, the matter and radiation are almost completely dissipated and the expansion sops. An energy field pervades the universe and creates new matter and radiation, continuing the cycle

Question 8

State the kalam argument

Answer 8

1. Whatever begins to exist has a reason of its existence
2. The universe began to exist
3. Therefore the universe has a cause of its existence