Theme1A Cosological Argument Flashcards
What does the word ‘philosophy’ mean?
The word philosophy comes from the Greek ‘philo’ and ‘sophos’, which mean love and wisdom.
What is the focus of the philosophy of religion?
The philosophy of religion analyses the central concepts, beliefs and teachings relating to religion.
What are philosophical arguments composed of?
Philosophical arguments consist of a series of premises that lead towards a conclusion.
What is a valid argument?
The conclusion logically follows from the preceding premises without any gaps in reasoning during the premises or any unexplained new information in the conclusion.
What is a sound argument?
The information in the premises must be accurate, and the logical process must be a valid one.
Define ‘premise’.
A premise is a proposition that is the basis for a conclusion.
Define ‘conclusion’.
A conclusion is a decision arrived at via a reasoning process.
What is the first argument presented as valid and sound?
P: I was born in Littlehampton. P: Littlehampton is on the Sussex coast. Therefore, I was born on the Sussex coast.
What is the second argument presented as not valid or sound?
P: I was born in Littlehampton. P: Littlehampton is on the Scottish coast. Therefore, my birth certificate says Scotland on it.
What is an inductive argument?
An inductive argument gives a conclusion that is one of several possibilities.
Provide an example of an inductive argument.
‘I sneezed, therefore I have a cold.’
What forms can evidence take in philosophical proofs?
Evidence can be either empirical or rational in form.
What is empirical evidence?
Empirical evidence is sensory data from the physical world.
What is rational evidence?
Rational evidence is intellectual reasoning without empirical data, e.g., mathematics.
What is the cosmological argument?
The cosmological argument for the existence of God is a philosophical proof for the existence of God.
What does Aquinas’ First Argument address?
Aquinas’ First Argument addresses the process of change.
What is ‘potentiality’ in the context of Aquinas’ arguments?
Potentiality refers to something that has the capacity to change.
What is the conclusion of Aquinas’ First Argument?
There must be a prime mover.
What does Aquinas’ Second Argument focus on?
Aquinas’ Second Argument focuses on cause and effect.
What is the significance of Aquinas’ Five Arguments?
Aquinas’ Five Arguments are a posteriori arguments based on Aristotelian reasoning.
What does a posteriori mean?
It refers to knowledge that is derived from empirical evidence or data.
‘A posteriori’ is Latin for ‘from the latter’ or ‘from what comes after,’ indicating that conclusions are drawn from observed phenomena.
What is the cosmological argument?
It is a philosophical argument for the existence of God based on the existence and nature of the universe.
The argument relies on the premise that everything that exists has a cause, leading to the conclusion of a first cause or prime mover.
Who was St Thomas Aquinas?
An Italian, Roman Catholic, Dominican monk known for integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology.
He lived from approximately 1225 to 1274 and is famous for his work ‘Summa Theologica’.
What are the first three Ways in Aquinas’ Five Ways?
They are logical arguments for God’s existence based on motion, cause and effect, and necessity.
These arguments are a posteriori and draw upon empiricist reasoning.