I. Cosmological Arguments
1.Defined: cosmological arguments typically reason that that the universe, or the chain of causes and effects in the world, or the objects that we see existing around us require a first cause or a supernatural cause to account for their existence.
Something could not have come from nothing.
Everything has to have a cause.
The chain of events or causes cannot go back infinitely in history—there must be a starting point.
2. Some Terms. A number of basic concepts and tools are explained on a handout:Some Logical Basics linked towards the bottom of our syllabus.
Necessary beings
Contingent beings
Principle of Sufficient Reason
A priori truths
A posteriori truths
2.Aquinas: Dominican monk (1225-1274). One of the greatest theologians in history. He argues that essential claims like God exists can be known and demonstrated through the use of reason. He gives 5 ways. In your text.
Notes in WebCT Cosmological Arguments folder
3. The Second Way
a. efficient cause.
b. problems:
i. circular?
ii. not everything has a distinct cause
iii. if everything must have a cause, then the first cause appears to violate the rule
iv. no divine attributes
v. A series cannot be infinite, but God can?
4. The Third Way
a. necessary and contingent beings
b. problems: Fallacy of Composition
c. No Divine attributes
d. Not all things are contingent is not equiv. to A single nec. being, God, exists.
5. Samuel Clarke's Cosmological argument Anglican minister, 1675-1729.
6. Problems—see notes in WebCT
7. What is the domain of the PSR?
a. Five Eskimos Problem
7. William Lane Craig: The Kalaam Cosmological Argument
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