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Flashcards in Cosmological Argument Deck (17)
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1
Q

From looking at the __________ we can deduce God’s existence.

A

universe

2
Q

Which philosopher is associated with the CA and what were his dates?

A

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)

2
Q

Which book did Aquinas set out his CA?

A

Summa Theologia

3
Q

How many ways did Aquinas set out to demonstrate God’s existence? How many are relevant to the CA?

A

5, 3 are needed

4
Q

What is the first way of Aquinas’ CA?

A

Motion

5
Q

Explain Aquinas’ first way of CA

A

Things are constantly in motion, changing from potentiality to actuality.
Must be something that causes this change. (Prime Mover)
This is God
‘It is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other’

6
Q

What is the second way of Aquinas’ CA?

A

Causation

7
Q

Explain Aquinas’ second way of CA

A

Everything has a cause
Causes can’t continue backwards forever
First efficient cause must be God
Cannot be potentially and actually the same thing
The Prime causer is ‘pure act’ that stops infinite regression
Has to be ‘pure act’ being somewhere i.e. God

8
Q

Why did Hume reject Aquinas’ argument from causation? What were his dates?

A

No proof of every event/thing having a cause, it is illogical
“Whatever has a beginning of existence must have a cause” is not certain; ASSUMPTIONS
The fallacy of composition - you cant assume the universe has a cause just because contingent things within it do
(1711-1776)

9
Q

What is the third way of Aquinas’ CA?

A

Contingency

10
Q

Explain Aquinas’ third way of CA

A

Some things may or may not exist.
Must’ve been a time when a greater being existed necessarily, i.e. God
There has to be something with a necessary existence and cannot fail to exist.

11
Q

How did Kant criticise Aquinas’ third way?

A

Kant rejected the idea of necessary existence (similar to his rejection of Anselm)

12
Q

How did Mackie criticise Aquinas’ third way?

A

Rejected the idea that if something doesn’t have a predicate it must have some supreme greater ruler. Why should this be accepted?

13
Q

What do the 3 ways achieve?

A

Demonstrates the existence between a first efficient cause and a prime mover of the universe that is pure actuality.

14
Q

What year was the Russel-Copleston debate?

A

1947

15
Q

What did Copleston say?

A

Drew from Aquinas.
Universe can only be explained by reference to God.
God is ‘his own sufficient cause’
Explaining why there is a universe is important.

16
Q

What did Russell say?

A

Rejected Copleston’s argument.
Explanation of the universe is beyond our reach.
An explanation that goes beyond the universe is unexplainable.
‘I should say that the universe is there and that’s all.’