the cosmological argument

Question 1

What is the nature of the cosmo argument?

Answer 1

A posteriori inductive

Question 2

What is meant by a posteriori?

Answer 2

Based on sense experience

Question 3

What is meant by inductive?

Answer 3

Based on probability, conclusion isn’t guaranteed
Requires ppl to take a leap of faith

Question 4

What is Aquinas’ way 3 summarised?

Answer 4

• Everything in the cosmos is contingent
• Smth must therefore exist necessarily

Question 5

What is the leap made in Aquinas’ way 3?

Answer 5

Smth caused the world to exist, so God caused the world to exist

Question 6

What is a summary of Aquinas’ way 3 in it’s form?

Answer 6

P1 - Universe is contingent
P2 - smth necessary caused the universe
C - God is necessary + therefore caused the universe

Question 7

What does only a necessary being have the power to do?

Answer 7

Create the first ever contingent thing

Question 8

What was Russell’s criticism of the way 3 argument?

Answer 8

It commits the fallacy of composition

Question 9

What is an example of the fallacy of composition?

Answer 9

• Hydrogen isn’t wet; oxygen isn’t wet; therefore water isn’t wet

Question 10

What does the fallacy of composition mean for the cosmological argument?

Answer 10

Just bc everything in the universe has a cause, doesn’t mean the universe as a whole has a cause

Question 11

What did Hume question/criticise about the cosmological argument?

Answer 11

Why do we stop the line of infinite regression at God? Did smth create God? Why is God the uncaused cause?

Question 12

What does Russell say about statements about existence?

Answer 12

Any statement about existence will always be synthetic

Question 13

What is meant by synthetic?

Answer 13

It’s either true or not

Question 14

What does Russell say about the universes existence?

Answer 14

The universes existence is just a brute fact

Question 15

What are weaknesses of the cosmological argument?

Answer 15

• Fallacy of composition
• Universe could be a brute fact
• It can’t be shown that existence of any being is logically necessary
• Why just one necessary being

Question 16

What is a counter argument to the fact that the universe could just be a brute fact?

Answer 16

Most people just seek an explanation for things

Question 17

What about Aquinas’ way 3 shows proof?

Answer 17

• Only deductive arg can give absolute proof; cosmo arg is inductive + can never be absolutely certain
• Way 3 will never convince atheists

Question 18

What shows Aquinas way 3 HAS value for religious faith? (in terms of hypothesis + language)

Answer 18

• Reasonable hypothesis
• Difficult lang but concept is easy to understand

Question 19

What did Aquinas not think about his way 3 argument in terms of value for religious faith?

Answer 19

He didn’t think it was sufficient on its own; faith is supported by reason

Question 20

What shows that Aquinas’ way 3 has NO VALUE for religious faith? (Kant)

Answer 20

• Not all theists accept it; Kant rejected it bc he thought the idea of God as a necessary being was dependant on the onto arg

Question 21

What did Karl Barth reject?

Answer 21

All attempts to prove God’s existence through reason