ARGUMENTS FOR GOD'S EXISTENCE

Question 1

What is the focus of Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument?

Answer 1

To explain the key elements and evaluate its effectiveness in proving God’s existence.

Question 2

How many arguments for God’s existence did Aquinas suggest?

Answer 2

Five arguments known as The Five Ways.

Question 3

What does cosmology study?

Answer 3

The universe.

Question 4

What is the third way in Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument?

Answer 4

Observation that all things in the universe are contingent.

Question 5

What does the term ‘contingent’ refer to in the context of Aquinas’s argument?

Answer 5

Things that are moved, changed, and caused, which need not exist.

Question 6

What conclusion does Aquinas draw from the observation of contingent things?

Answer 6

Something must exist necessarily.

Question 7

What is the implication of everything being contingent?

Answer 7

The universe must depend on something outside of it.

Question 8

What does the Cosmological Argument suggest about the external reason for existence?

Answer 8

It must itself be necessary.

Question 9

What is the first premise (P1) of Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument?

Answer 9

Everything can exist or not-exist; everything in the natural world is contingent.

Question 10

What is the second premise (P2) of Aquinas’s Cosmological Argument?

Answer 10

If everything is contingent, then at some time there would be nothing.

Question 11

What does premise (P3) state about nothing coming from nothing?

Answer 11

If there was once nothing, then nothing could have come from nothing.

Question 12

What conclusion (C1) follows from the premises regarding necessary existence?

Answer 12

Something must exist necessarily, otherwise nothing would now exist.

Question 13

What does premise (P4) state about necessary beings?

Answer 13

Everything necessary must either be caused or uncaused.

Question 14

What does premise (P5) indicate about the series of necessary beings?

Answer 14

The series cannot be infinite, or there would be no explanation of that series.

Question 15

What is the conclusion (C2) regarding uncaused beings?

Answer 15

There must be some uncaused being which exists of its own necessity.

Question 16

What does conclusion (C3) suggest about our understanding of God?

Answer 16

By this, we all understand God.

Question 17

Is the Cosmological Argument more, less, or equally persuasive compared to the Ontological Argument?

Answer 17

This is a point for discussion.

Question 18

What type of argument is the Cosmological Argument?

Answer 18

It is a posteriori argument.

Question 19

What should be evaluated regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument?

Answer 19

Consider its effectiveness compared to the Ontological Argument.

Question 20

What is the significance of Aristotle in relation to Aquinas’s argument?

Answer 20

Aquinas was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of the Prime Mover.

Question 21

What does the term ‘necessary existence’ refer to?

Answer 21

Existence that does not depend on anything else.

Question 22

What was one of Russell’s key criticisms of the Cosmological Argument?

Answer 22

Aquinas is guilty of the fallacy of composition

Question 23

What example does Russell use to illustrate the fallacy of composition?

Answer 23

‘Just because every man has a mother does not mean that the human race has a mother.’

Question 24

According to Russell, what can be said about a necessary being?

Answer 24

There can be no such thing as a necessary being; existence is not a predicate.

Question 25

How does Russell describe the universe?

Answer 25

A 'brute fact' that cannot be explained

Question 26

What is one of Hume's criticisms regarding existence?

Answer 26

Existence has to be proved; statements should be synthetic.

Question 27

What does Hume suggest about the universe's necessity?

Answer 27

The universe could be necessary, using Ockham’s Razor.

Question 28

What is the concept of infinite regress in Hume's argument?

Answer 28

There could be infinite regress in causation.

Question 29

If God is the cause, what question does Hume raise?

Answer 29

What caused God?

Question 30

What does Hume argue regarding the nature of God?

Answer 30

Even if God was necessary, he may not be the God of Classical Theism.

Question 31

What could our perception of cause and effect be, according to Hume?

Answer 31

An illusion

Question 32

What key characteristics define the Design Argument?

Answer 32

It is 'a posteriori', inductive and argues that God's existence is synthetic. ## Footnote 'A posteriori' means it is based on experience; 'inductive' refers to drawing general conclusions from specific instances.

Question 33

What analogy does Paley use to explain his Design Argument?

Answer 33

If we found a watch on a heath, we would observe complexity, purpose, and regularity, leading us to assume design and hence a designer. ## Footnote This analogy suggests that just as a watch has a designer, so does nature.

Question 34

What attributes of nature does Paley highlight to support his argument?

Answer 34

* Purpose (e.g., birds have wings to fly) * Regularity (e.g., planets orbit in regular motion) ## Footnote These attributes suggest that nature, like a watch, indicates the presence of a designer.

Question 35

What conclusion does Paley reach from his Design Argument?

Answer 35

The world has a designer - God. ## Footnote This conclusion is based on the perceived complexity and order in the natural world.

Question 36

Is 'God exists' a synthetic or analytic statement?

Answer 36

Synthetic. ## Footnote A synthetic statement is one that requires empirical evidence for validation.

Question 37

What is the alternative name for the Design Argument?

Answer 37

The Teleological Argument. ## Footnote 'Teleological' derives from 'telos', meaning purpose or design.

Question 38

What year did David Hume write his arguments?

Answer 38

1779 (before Paley's design argument) ## Footnote This year is significant in understanding the historical context of Hume's philosophical contributions.

Question 39

What were David Hume's arguments?

Answer 39

* Might not be the God of CT * He compared the world to a vegetable rather than a machine * Could have just been random particles colliding and eventually forming order

Question 40

Other potential arguments?

Answer 40

* It can be argued that the world is imperfect, suggesting an imperfect creator * The world is flawed