Proofs/ Critiques of God's Existence

Question 1

Aquinas: First way (Argument from motion)

Answer 1

Aquinas argued that everything in the world is in motion and must have been started by someone else.

He said that there must be a prime mover that indicated this motion.

Question 2

2. Argument from Efficient Causes

Answer 2

Nothing can cause itself, everything is caused by something else. There must be a first cause

Question 3

3. Argument from contingency

Answer 3

Everything in the world is contingent and dependent on something else for its existence

Question 4

4. Argument Gradation

Answer 4

Things in the world posses degrees of perfection and goodness.

There must be a standard of perfection against which all things are measured.

Question 5

5. Argument from Design

Answer 5

The order and purpose observed in the universe imply the existence of an intelligent designer.

Question 6

Immanuel Kant:
Existence is not a predicate

Answer 6

Existence is not a property that can be added to a concept. Saying something exists doesn’t add anything to its nature.

The ontological argument, which tries to prove existence as a predicate of a perfectly being, doesn’t hold.

Question 7

Kant
2. Limits of Knowledge

Answer 7

The human mind has inherent limitations that prevent us from having knowledge beyond the realm of experience.

Since God is above human experience, we can not have definitive knowledge of God.

Question 8

Kant
3.The antimonies of pure reason

Answer 8

Pure reason can lead to contradictory conclusions when discussing the nature of the universe.