Cosmological Argument Essay plans

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The Cosmological Argument is Coherent (evaluate)

- it is built on empirical knowledge/on observations of the world (supported by Aristotle)
-The argument provides a solution to one of the deepest existential questions. This counters Russell's unwillingness to attempt to find an answer to this as Copleston argues: "If one refuses to sit down at the chess board and make a move, one cannot of course be checkmated."
-Leibniz- the universe requires a sufficient reason for it's existence.
Copleston- "there needs to be a necessary being to explain why everything else exists. Contingent beings lack the sufficient reason to explain why they exist'
-Kalam argument- the argument of cause and effect is not exclusive to Christian philosophers. Also present in Islam
-Aristotle, the universe requires a first cause
-Infinite regression is illogical and goes against scientific empirical evidence

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The Cosmological Argument is not Coherent (evaluat

-The possibility of an infinite regress- Aquinas rejects this but with little justification.
-Bertrand Russell- the earth is a 'brute fact' with no need for explanation in terms of a cause.
-The inductive leap- Aquinas moves from inferring that there must be a first cause to the idea that this is the God of classical theism - on what basis for justification?
-Contradiction- Aquinas argues that, for example, everything that is in motion must possess a prior cause- and then this contradicts this by arguing for the uniqueness of God- on what basis?
- The idea of a neccesary being is unverifiable and beyond what we know (AJ Ayer)
-Leibniz's argument falls prey to it's own logic: If God is the sufficient reason to explain the universe, what is the sufficient explanation for God?
-The Big Bang as an alternative explanation- did the universe come about as a result of the clashing of sub-atomic matter? If so the idea of a creator God becomes less relevant!

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Arguments supporting Aquinas' 1st/2nd/3rd Ways

-cosmological argument built on empirical knowledge/on observations of the world (supported by Aristotle)
-The argument provides a solution to one of the deepesnt existental questions. "If one refuses to sit down at the chess board and make a move, one cannot of course be checkmated"
-Leibniz- the universe requires a sufficient reason for it's existence.
-Coplestion- Contingent beings lack the sufficient reason to explain why they exist.
-Brian Davies- it is logical to propose that the universe requires a cause: 'As an argument for a first cause for all existing things the CA seems a reasonable one;
-Kalam argument- the argument of cause and effect is not exclusive to Christian philosophers. Also present in Islam
-Aristotle- the universe requires a first cause
-Infinite regression is illogical and goes against scientific empirical evidence

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Criticisms of Aquinas' 1st and 2nd way

-they possibility of an infinite regress - Aquinas reject this but with little justification
- Bertrand Russell- the earth a 'brute fact' with no need of explanation in terms of a cause.
-The inductive leap-Aquinas moves from inferring that there must be a first cause to the idea that this is the God of classical theism- on what basis or justification? what is there to suggest that it was not a deity or greek Gods?
-Plurality of causes- perhaps there is a cause of the world, but perhaps this cause might be many causes/an imperfect cause etc.
-Contradiction- Aquinas argues that, for example, everything that is in motion must possess a prior cause- and then contradicts this by arguing for the uniqueness of God- on what basis?

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Criticisms of the 3rd Way

-The notion of a neccesary, unique being, is a logical impossiblity, at least from our experience
-If we assign neccesity as a characteristic to God, we are no longer presenting an a posteriori argument, or one that follows valid logic.
The idea of a necessary being is unverifiable and beyond what we know, AJ Ayer, Verification Principle.

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The universe requires an explanation

-JL Mackie on infinite regress: Mackie provides the analogy of the infinite number of train carriages. An infinite number of these still requires an engine to inject energy.
- Reply to Russell on the world as a brute fact: to ignore the question of how the world arose is to reject a question fundamental to human existence.
-Objection to quantumn physics- William Lane Craig argues that electrons do not pass in and out of existence without a cause but are caused by vacuum fluctuations
-Objection to the concept of infinity: infinity is an unproven concept- the library with an infinite number of red and green books
-Leibniz- the universe requires a sufficient reason for it's existence.
-Aristotle- the universe requires a first cause.

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The universe does not require an explanation

- Bertrand Russell- following the logic of the cosmological argument, one might come to the conclusion that becuase all men have a mother, there must be a mother of all men. This is illogical
- David Hume: one can account for single instances of cause and effect, but to ascribe an overall cause to the universe is to go beyond the available evidence.
-The Big bang is an alternative explanation- did the universe come about as a result of the clashing of sub-atomic particles? if so the idea of a creator God becomes less relevant

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Strengths of the 2nd way ('the universe requires a

-JL Mackie on infinite regress: Mackie provides the analogy of the infinite number of carriages. An infinite number of these still requires an engine to inject energy.
- Reply to Russell on the world as a brute fact: to ignore the question of how the world arose is to reject a question which is fundamental to human existence
-Objection to quantum physics:William Lane Craig argues that electrons do not pass in and out of existence without a cause but are influenced by vacuum fluctuations.
-Leibniz- the universe requiers sufficient reason for it's existence.
-Aristotle- the universe requires a first cause
-Copleston 'Contingent beings lack the sufficient reason to explain why they exist'

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Criticisms of the 2nd Way ('the universe does not

-The possibility of an infinite regress- Aquinas rejected this but with little justification.
-Bertrand Russell- The earth is just a brute fact with no need of explanation in terms of a cause.
-Bertrand Russell supports this: following the logic of the cosmological argument, one might come to the conclusion that because all men have a mother, there must be a mother to all men. This is illogical.
-The Big Bang as an alternative explanation- did the universe come about as a result of the the clashing of sub-atomic matter? If so the idea of a creator God becomes less relevant!

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