The Cosmological Argument

Question 1

What is the cosmological argument

Answer 1

the cosmological argument is based on the sense that life is not random or accidental.If God is the reason why there is a universe,then we are free to believe that the universe and the people in the universe are here for a good reason

Question 2

define a posteriori

Answer 2

the statement relies on external evidence to prove the statement

Question 3

inductive reasoning

Answer 3

focuses on how the conclusions are valid if they apply to the real world

Question 4

does the cosmological argument introduce Aquinas’ four ways?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

what are Aquinas’ four ways

Answer 5

1- the argument from motion
2- the causation of existence
3- contingent and necessary objects
4- the argument from degrees and perfection

Question 6

aquinas’ first way- the argument from motion

Answer 6

this is otherwise known as the unmoved mover. Everything that is moving or changing is moved or changed by something outside itself.
The instigator of the motion or the change in a thing is also changing or in motion
the process cannot go back infinitely, therefore there must be a first mover independent of anything else.This is what everyone understands to be God.#
A02:if god moved or caused anything, what caused god

Question 7

aquainas’ second way - the causation of existence

Answer 7

This is often known as the uncaused causer. it is often based on the fact that every effect has a cause .Nothing that we experience is caused by itself
there cannot be infinite regression of causes
Therefor, there must be a first cause .This is what everyone understands to be god
a02: what caused god , what about the big bang , where is the scientific evidence?

Question 8

Aquinas’ third way- contingent and necessary objects

Answer 8

all things in nature are subject to change , it is possible for a thing not to be , then come to existence then leave to exist.
if this is so then there must be something that brings contingent things into existence
therefore, there must be a being a being that necessarily exists to bring the contingent world into being
god= necessary being that brings a contingent world into being

Question 9

aquinas’ fourth way- the argument from degrees and perfection

Answer 9

everything that exists in the world is more good
there are varying degrees of excellence
there cannot be an infinite scale of good life

Question 10

what are the strengths of the cosmological argument

Answer 10

it is simple and easy to understand - the universe did not come about by chance - this is important for religious believers, it gives a solution to infinite regress

Based on logic

Question 11

what is infinite regress

Answer 11

infinite regress is the idea of a process going back into the past with no beginning

Question 12

what does William Lane Craig say about the universe

Answer 12

the universe is infinite and therefore most have had a beginning ,it was either caused or uncaused. The universe came about naturally or through personal choice

Question 13

what does William lane craig hold?

Answer 13

the laws of nature did not exist before the world came into being due to random forces of nature.
there must have been a personal agent involved.This personal agent must exist outside space and time
therefore, Craig states that this personal being chose to create the universe.

Question 14

Criticisms of the cosmological argument

Answer 14

David Hume criticises this, this is shown in his book dialogue concerning natural religion

HE MAINTAINED THAT THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE HAS A CAUSE , DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE UNIVERSE MUST HAVE A CAUSE

Question 15

Outline some of Humes’ arguments

Answer 15

why assume that we need to find a cause

why look for an explanation for the whole universe

Question 16

Kant

Answer 16

states that we only know god through our senses

Question 17

define telos

Answer 17

order or purpose

Question 18

what is beneficial order

Answer 18

the beneficial order in the universe means that there are things in the universe that work towards an end or a purpose

Question 19

what is ockhams razor

Answer 19

ockhams razor:the simplest explanation is usually the best one

Question 20

Cosmological argument:Kalam argument

Answer 20

the kalam argument is the islamic form of the cosmological argument which includes al kindi and al ghazali

they explained that the cosmological argument focuses on the notion of cause

it believes that everything has a cause of its own existence.this includes the universe

ao2: some scientists believe that infinity does not exist as we do not know what it is

Question 21

what does the kalam argument hold

Answer 21

the kalam argument holds that infinity as an actual concept cannot exist.this means that a cause must have happened somewhere, the universe must have started somewhere

Question 22

dawkins believes that we are…

Answer 22

grotesquely lucky to be here

Question 23

what does dawkins also believe

Answer 23

Dawkin also believes that

Question 24

leibniz- principle of sufficient reason

Answer 24

leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason explains the cosmological argument. he argues that the universe will still need sufficient reason for its existence.
a strength of this is that it shows that the universe did not come about by chance, which is important for religious believers.

Question 25

coppleston vs russell

Answer 25

they discuss the cosmological argument

in the argument from contingency, coppleston argues that god must exist