Cosmological argument

Cosmological Argument

an argument for the existence of God which claims that all things in nature depend on something else for their existence (i.e. are contingent), and that the whole cosmos must therefore itself depend on a being which exists independently or necessarily.

Kalam Cosmological Argument

Originating from Islamic philosophy and later adapted by Western thinkers, it argues that the universe has a beginning, and since everything that begins to exist has a cause, the universe must have been caused by an uncaused, personal Creator.

Thomas aquinas first way

Argument from motion,

aquinas recognised that all objects in the world are in motion, but nothing can move by itself, therefore suggesting the need for an intelligent designer

Thomas aquinas's second way

Argument from efficient cause,

Everything that exists is caused by something else, but this cannot go back infinitely, so there must be a first cause.

Thomas aquinas third way

Argument from contingency, There is a necessary being that brings contingent things into existence. I.E GOD!!!

1948 radio debate between Copleston and Russell

Copleston was arguing in favour of the cosmological argument and argued that contingent beings necessitates the need for a necessary being, and there must also be a first cause which is the ultimate explanation for everything

• Russell questions why the universe could not be its own explanation, he also says that just because individuals are contingent doesn't mean the universe as a whole is contingent

Quote from Coplestone 1948 radio debate

'if one even refuses to sit down at the chessboard and make a move one cannot be checkmated"

Quote from russell from the 1948 radio debate

"the universe is just there, and that is all"

Potential counter to russell

Supporters argue that rejecting an explanation for the universe contradicts the principle of sufficient reason and that even scientific inquiry rests on the assumption that everything can be explained.

Hume's Fallacy of composition

the incorrect belief that what is true for the individual, or part, must necessarily be true for the group, or the whole

potential counter to hume

Proponents respond that the idea of the universe being a "brute fact" seems counterintuitive and that seeking explanations is a natural and necessary part of understanding existence.

Quote from hume on fallacy of composition

cannot infer from 'every individual event has a cause' to the conclusion that 'the whole universe has a cause'.

Infinite Regress

The idea that there is no first cause in the infinite line of causes extending into the past; causes are infinitely dependent on dependent causes.

Why do people support infinite regress

Critics argue that if everything requires a cause, then God should also need a cause. They question why God is exempt from causation while the universe is not.

Kant's objection of the cosmological argument

He argues that the cosmological argument is based on the principle of necessity and causality which are derived from human reason and are limited to human understanding which cannot be applied to the natural universe

• he also says the cosmological argument incorrectly assumes god exists without providing suficient evidence

Scientific Explanations for the Universe's Origin

Some physicists argue that quantum mechanics allows for particles to appear without a cause, questioning the necessity of a first cause in the cosmological argument.

Leibniz Principle of Sufficient Reason

nothing happens without a reason

• Arguing that there must be a reason for why there is something rather than nothing, leading to the necessity of a self-existent being, or God, as the ultimate reason for existence.

Leibiniz view on infitite regress

he rejected infinite regress and suggested we should not be happy with an unending regress and should want to know the cause

Humes criticism of cosmological argument

he says we have no experience in the metaphysical workings of the universe so how can we claim to know how it operates.

Aristotle on the cosmological argument

Believed that all changes in the universe come from an ultimate source that creates a chain of cause and effect. If the universe has no ultimate cause, there would be no chain and effect therefore we wouldn't be here. So there must be an ultimate cause of the universe which has no cause.