Philosophy - Cosmological Argument

Question 1

name the key scholar, text and date of the cosmological argument

Answer 1

Thomas Aquinas
Book Summa Theologica
13th century

Question 2

What is the nature of the argument

Answer 2

Inductive - a posteriori argument - uses physical experiences

Question 3

What were Aquinas’ main 3 ‘ways’ ?

Answer 3

-motion/change
-causation
-contingency

Question 4

What is the main idea behind the cosmological argument?

Answer 4

-The Big Bang is the most widely accepted theory for the beginning of the universe.
-If this was the first ever event in the universe, it was not a result of a previous event
-Therefore the cause of the Big Bang must be a necessary being capable of causing events but is not itself caused (God)

Question 5

Explain the CONTINGENCY argument

Answer 5

-ordinary things start to exist + later stop existing ( they are contingent) live + die
-therefore at some time, none of them were in existence
- but something only comes into existence by being caused by something already existent
-therefore there must be a being whose existence is necessary + not limited by time - God

Question 6

What are David Hume’s Criticisms? Of cosmological argument

Answer 6

-why is the necessary being God, why not many Gods?
-inductive argument therefore inconclusive
-contradictory to suggest the whole universe has a cause but then declare God has no cause.

Question 7

What are Bertrand Russell’s Criticisms?
Cosmological

Answer 7

-if everything in the universe requires an explanation then where is the explanation for God??
-the universe is a ‘brute fact’