Cosmological Argument Technical Definitions

The cosmos usually refers to this space-time universe. The study of the universe is called cosmology.

Contingent beings are dependent for their exisistence on other beings and things. In the cosmological argument, contingency implies the existence of something necessary- God.

A fallacy is a failure in reasoning which makes an argument invalid.

This is the fallacy of inferring that something is true of the whole from the fact that it is true of part of the whole. Russell argues that Aquinas' third way commits the fallacy of composition.

A form of necessity that derives from nature or essence of things. Aquinas' third way in effect holds that God is metaphysical necessity.

If there are competing hypotheisis, choose the one that makes the fewest assumptions/ entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily/ if there are two competing theories that make the predictions, the simpler one is the better one.

Afact that has no explaination.

In the cosmological argument, this is an indefinite sequence of causes or beings which does not have a first member of the series.

 The doctrine that everything must have a reason or cause: every contingent fact about the universe must have an explanation.

An elementary partivle assumed to be one of the building blocks of the matter.

The christian doctrine of God's grace is that God shows humanity an undeserved love and mercy. Grace is what bridges the gap between the moral standards that God requires and what humans can achieve by ther own unaided effort.