Unit 2 Philosophy

Philosophical proof

Evidence strong enough to make other explanations unreasonable

Who is given credit for the Kalam cosmological argument

Al-Gazali

What is the problem with saying the universe has been “fluctuating” for eternity?

Current evidence does not show signs of future collapse

1. Anything with a beginning has a cause

2. The universe had a beginning

3. Therefore it has a cause

4. The external cause of the universe would have to be timeless and spaceless

kalam cosmological argument

law of casuality

anything with a beginning has a cause

Which problem of the kalam argument is normally attacked?

That the universe had a beginning

What is some scientific evidence for the beginning of the universe?

The discovery of the expansion of the universe and the the proof that any universe is expanding means there was an ultimate beginning

How does Dr. Craig argue that the cause of the universe is an intelligent being?

The only immaterial things that could cause the universe are abstract conditions or a supernatural being. Since abstract conditions cannot exist without their effect, the cause of the universe has to be a being who chooses to begin the universe

Deist who used to be a well known atheist

Anthony Flew

What convinced Flew to convert?

Teleological argument

Deism

God created the universe but does not interfere beyond that

Bertrand Russell

first in a modern day line of famous atheist philosophers

Why can’t time go back into the past forever?

If the past was infinite, we would never reach today

The most persuasive argument for atheism is often…

the problem of evil

Can God create a rock so big he cannot lift it?

no, it is not logically possible since God cannot be more than all powerful

“There is no real proof about God”

Ask what they mean by proof, and follow with any argument for God where they can be held responsible to each premise

Why can’t Christians say “That’s just what I believe” when questioned about their belief in God?

It puts Christianity on the same level as any unreasonable and irrational belief, it gives no evidence

Is evidence of evolution a good argument against the existence of God?

No, it does not affect God’s existence

logical response to the problem of evil

Plantinga’s free will defense: free will is given to us, but it entails the possibility of evil

Why is the problem of evil such a “strong” argument?

the emotional aspect

What is the best way someone can help another w the problem of evil

Actively love people in a way that allows them to process their emotions

Occam’s razor

If we can explain the universe without God, there is no need to believe he exists

Response to Occam’s razor

Use argument that shows God is necessary to explain the universe

Why are arguments like “I don’t like God” considered weak?

It doesn’t affect God’s existence

In Christianity, God provides the foundation for moral values thru..

love

Pantheists

Believe that all of humanity and nature itself is one

Is it possible for there to be more than one ultimate being?

no

“I do not know whether or not God exists”

undecided

“I cannot know whether or not God exists”

agnosticism

“There is no God”

atheism

Response to someone who claims that God must have a beginning

If he is the first cause, he must be eternal. If the universe is the first cause, it would also have to be eternal

Response to someone who claims that God must be both good and evil, since he has no limits

God is limitless in characteristics but he does not have all characteristics (or it would be pantheism)

Response to those who say a loving God would not allow for unbelief

Unbelief must be possible for people have be free. Relationships with love require freely choosing to participate

Problem with simply saying that atheism is the “lack of belief in God”

That would mean babies, animals, and plants are all atheists, which is not the case

Argument for atheism

The burden of proof lies on the atheist to show why suffering and God’s goodness are incompatible

How does the butterfly effect relate to pointless suffering?

What appears to be pointless up close could have huge effects on the rest of the world

Why can God not make His exact ideal world?

Because he gave people the ability to free will

“God lacks good reason for permitting the suffering in the world”

We are not in a position to say this, because we are not all knowing

If a maximally great being could exist in some possible world, then a maximally great being exists in the actual world

Ontological argument

1. If God does not exist, objective morality does not exist

2. Objective morality exists

3. Therefore God exists

Axiological argument

1. The laws of the universe are fine-tuned for life

2. This fine-tuning is due to physical necessity, chance or design

3. It is not due to physical necessity or chance

4. The universe is fine-tuned from design

Teleological argument

1. Everything that exists has an explanation for its existence, and it either exists contingently or necessarily

2. The universe does not exist necessarily

3. Therefore the universe exists contingently

Leibniz contingency argument