Cosmological Argument Flashcards

1
Q

Name the scholars who support the cosmological argument

A

Aquinas, Copleston and Leibniz

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2
Q

Name the scholars who criticise the cosmological argument

A

Hume, Russell, Kant, Mackie

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3
Q

In which of his Five Ways does Aquinas outline the cosmological argument?

A

Ways One, Two and Three

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4
Q

What is Aquinas’ first argument?

A

Way One - from motion (motus, change), the Unmoved Mover

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5
Q

What is Aquinas’ second argument?

A

Way Two - from causation, the Uncaused Causer

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6
Q

What is Aquinas’ third argument?

A

Way Three - from necessity and contingency

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7
Q

What is Leibniz’ principle?

A

The principle of sufficient reason

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8
Q

What does Leibniz’ principle mean?

A

A full and complete explanation or reason

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9
Q

In Aquinas’ first way, whose theory is he using?

A

Aristotle’s ideas of motus, actuality and potentiality

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10
Q

What assumption underlies Aquinas’ second way?

A

That all effects have a cause

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11
Q

What does Aquinas suggest cannot happen, in his first two arguments?

A

Infinite regress

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12
Q

What does infinite regress mean?

A

A chain of events going backwards forever

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13
Q

Which example from Mackie can be used to support Aquinas?

A

The train - carriages are moved by an engine

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14
Q

In Aquinas’ third way, what does he suggest there must have been at one time, if all beings are contingent?

A

At one point, there must have been nothing

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15
Q

What is the underlying assumption in Aquinas’ way three?

A

That nothing comes from nothing

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16
Q

Which of Aquinas’ ways does Copleston build on?

A

Way Three - necessary and contingency

17
Q

Which scholars argued in the famous radio debate?

A

Copleston and Russell

18
Q

What is Copleston’s main argument?

A

There must be a sufficient REASON to explain the universe

19
Q

What is Copleston’s understanding of the term “necessary”?

A

Holds the reason for its existence within itself

20
Q

What does Copleston say is sufficient reason behind the universe?

A

God - a necessary being

21
Q

What is Copleston’s example of contingency?

A

I am contingent - I rely on my parents and air/water

22
Q

What example is used in the Copleston-Russell debate about sufficient reason?

A

Striking a match on a box to light it

23
Q

Which argument do Russell and Hume use the cosmological argument?

A

The Fallacy of Composition

24
Q

What is the Fallacy of Composition?

A

What is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same for the whole.

25
Q

What is Russell’s example of the Fallacy of Composition?

A

Just because I have a mother, does not mean that the universe has a mother

26
Q

What is Russell’s quote about the existence of the universe?

A

It is just there, and that is all

27
Q

What does Russell argue against?

A

Asking questions about why the universe exists

28
Q

How did Copleston criticise Russell after the debate?

A

If one refuses to sit at the chessboard, one cannot be check-mated.

29
Q

What is Hume’s most important criticism of the cosmological argument?

A

The assumption that every effect must have a cause, based on empirical experience and observation

30
Q

List Hume’s five criticisms of the cosmological argument

A

Cause/effect; fallacy of composition; universe could be its own cause; infinite regress; God of classical theism

31
Q

How does Kant criticise the cosmological argument?

A

Because we can only experience the phenomenal world

32
Q

Give two strengths of the cosmological argument

A

It argues from empirical evidence; it seeks to answer the question WHY is there something rather than nothing.