The Existence Of God #2: The Cosmological Argument

Question 1

Describe the cosmological argument (6)

Answer 1

1. Nothing happens by itself
2. Everything that happens must have a cause
3. Universe cannot have happened by itself
4. A very powerful force must have caused this
5. This must be god: uncaused cause
6. So, god exists

Question 2

How might people explain the cosmological argument? (6)

Answer 2

1. Everything DOES have a cause
2. Illogical to trace causes back forever
   - there must be a first uncaused cause
3. This could only be God
4. God is uncaused cause ‘Prime Mover’
5. Does not need a cause: has always existed and always will

Question 3

Why would people agree with Aquinas’ argument? (6)

Answer 3

1. We can observe that the universe exists and must need a cause
2. God is the only thing powerful enough to be this cause
3. It makes sense for him to be first cause: he is different from material items
4. Science agrees things cannot cause themselves
   - Eg. Suggests big bang as cause of universe
5. Mathematicians: infinite regress is impossible
6. Ockham’s razor: simplest explanation is the correct one

Question 4

Why would people disagree with Aquinas’ argument? (6)

Answer 4

1. Contradictory: why can god be uncaused?
2. Based on assumptions, proves nothing
   - At most, it proves it’s reasonable to believe in god, but this fits more with the Deist view of god then the theist view
3. Universe may not need cause: may be undergoing infinite numbers of contractions and expansions
4. We believe things need a cause due to our experience, but our experience is limited
   - eg. Quantum physics tells us particles can appear, so it’s possible that the singularity spontaneously occurred