Philosophy test 2

The Cosmological Argument

1. there are things that are caused

2. nothing can be the cause of itself

3. an infinite regress of causes is impossible

4. therefore, there must be an uncaused first cause

5. the word God means uncaused first cause

6. therefore God exists

The 2 objections for the Cosmological argument

1. The word “God” means more than uncaused first cause

2. How do we know an infinite regress of causes is impossible?

William Craig’s Hilbert’s hotel (2nd objection to Cosmological Argument)

1. Assume an actual infinite is possible

2. it would be possible to build a hotel with infinitely many rooms

3. it would also be possible for all the rooms to be full

4. supposed 20 people check out of the hotel

5. now there are 20 fewer people in the hotel

6. however, infinity - 20 is still infinity, so there are the same number of people in the hotel

7. premises 5 and 6 contradict

8. therefore, an actual infinite is impossible

William Paley’s Teleological argument

1. Human artifacts are the product of intelligent design

2. the universe resembles human artifacts

3. The universe is vastly more complex than human artifacts

4. Therefore, the universe is probably the product of a vastly more intelligent designer

David Hume’s objections to the Teleological argument

1. You can’t argue from parts to a whole

2. The universe and human artifacts are too different to compare

3. Anthropomorphic. This is placing human characteristics onto something else. 

4. Flawed Universe: the universe is too flawed for a perfect creator to have made it 

Fifth objection from Darwin’s natural selection to the Teleological argument

There can be purposefulness without design

Anselm’s Ontological Argument

1. Assume that the Greatest Conceivable Being (GCB) exists in the mind alone and not in reality 

2. existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone 

3. it is possible that the GCB could exist in reality 

4. In such a case the GCB would be greater than the GCB

5. This is a contradiction

6. Therefore, the GCB exists in reality, not just in the mind alone 

Kant’s objection to the Ontological argument

Premise of the possibility of God (3) can’t be used as evidence. Fallacy of begging the question

Pascal’s Wager

1. I don’t believe God exists, and God doesn’t exist (EXTINCTION)

2. I don’t believe God exists, but God does exist (HELL)

3. I believe God exists, but God Doesn’t exist (EXTINCTION)

4. I believe God exists, and God does exist (HEAVEN)

WK Clifford’s objection to Pascal’s wager 

Immoral to believe any statement without sufficient evidence. No evidence for God’s existence is given

Alston’s objection to Pascal’s wager

One cannot choose beliefs. Beliefs are not chosen. Believe certain things due to life experiences, and some beliefs that are probably hard wired in us, chaged by experience not by choice. 

C.D. Broad’s argument for mystical experiences

1. There is great agreement among mystics concerning the spiritual nature of reality

2. when there is such agreement among observers their observations are usually correct

3. there is no reason to believe these mystics are delusional

4. therefore, there is probably a spiritual nature to reality

Main objection to mystical experiences

Mystical experiences cannot be repeated in the laboratory

Epicurus Argument from Evil against the existence of God

1. If God exists, then God is perfectly good and all powerful

2. A person is morally obligated to stop evil if it is within their power to do so

3. Since God is suppose to be perfectly good God would want to stop evil

4. Since God is suppose to be all powerful God could stop evil

5. Evil exists

6. Therefore, either God is not all powerful, or God is not perfectly good.

7. Therefore, God does not exist

Augustine responds to argument from evil with free will defense

1. It is possible that God created people to love and be loved

2. One cannot truly love without freely choosing to love

3. one cannot freely choose to love without free will

4. Therefore, God had to create people with free will;

5. once people have free will it is possible that they will choose to do evil

6. people have chosen to do evil

7. therefore, it is possible for a perfectly good and all powerful God to exist in a world with evil