PHIL101 - Existence of God Argument L1-L5

Philosophy

The study of fundamental questions concerning existence, knowledge, morality, and reason.

Metaphysics

A branch of philosophy examining the nature of reality.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge and belief, exploring questions about its nature and limits.

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy scrutinizing beauty, taste, and artistic value.

Philosophy of Mind

The study of the nature of the mind and consciousness.

Ethics

The philosophy that focuses on moral principles and dilemmas.

Political Philosophy

The study concerning the state, governance, and justice.

Logic

The study of valid reasoning and argumentation principles.

Argument

A set of premises leading to a conclusion.

Premise

A statement that provides support for a conclusion.

Conclusion

The statement that follows logically from the premises in an argument.

Valid Argument

An argument where it is impossible for the premises to be true while the conclusion is false.

Sound Argument

A valid argument that has all true premises.

Cosmological Argument

An argument for the existence of God based on the existence or nature of the universe.

Change Argument

A version of the cosmological argument positing that everything that changes has a cause.

Contingent Beings

Entities that require something else for their existence.

Necessary Being

A being whose existence is required for the existence of contingent beings.

Ontological Argument

An argument that defines God as the greatest conceivable being, asserting that God must exist.

Reductio ad Absurdum

A form of argument that demonstrates a statement's falsity by showing a contradiction.

Guanilo’s Parody

An argument against Anselm's ontological argument using a greatest conceivable island.

A Priori Knowledge

Knowledge that is independent of experience.

A Posteriori Knowledge

Knowledge that is derived from experience.

Teleological Argument

An argument for the existence of God based on the design and purpose seen in the universe.

Paley’s Watchmaker Analogy

An analogy used to argue that complex objects imply a designer.

Natural Evil

Suffering caused by natural events without human intervention.

Moral Evil

Suffering resulting from human actions.

Argument from Evil

An argument presenting a logical challenge to the existence of a benevolent God.

Inconsistent Tetrad

The contradictory nature of God's existence, the reality of evil, God's desire to eliminate evil, and God's omnipotence.

Free Will Defense

The argument that free will leads to evil, but is a necessary condition for moral choices.

Higher Goods

The philosophical position that some virtues require the existence of evil.

Gratuitous Evil

Evil that serves no obvious purpose, challenging the existence of an all-good God.

Hume’s Critiques

Arguments by David Hume challenging the design argument and the existence of a benevolent creator.

Kant’s Critique

A critique stating that existence is not a predicate that adds to the concept of a being.

Brute Fact

A fact that requires no further explanation, often used in discussions about the universe's existence.

Scientific Theories

Explanations of natural phenomena supported by empirical evidence.

Teleology

The explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.

Cosmological Proof

A general term for various arguments claiming to demonstrate God's existence based on the contingent nature of the universe.

Philosophical Tools

Techniques used in philosophical analysis, including reductio ad absurdum and the distinction between a priori and a posteriori.

Critical Thinking

The analysis of arguments and assumptions to reach conclusions logically.

Logical Structure

The organization of an argument that clearly delineates premises and conclusions.

Interconnection of Arguments

How various philosophical arguments are related and can inform each other.

Existential Questions

Fundamental questions about human existence and the universe.

Socratic Method

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue that stimulates critical thinking.