Cosmological Argument pt2

How did Paul Tillich describe God?

The ground of being

Who was Gottfried Leibniz?

A German philosopher and mathematician

When was Gottfried Leibniz alive?

1646-1716

What did Gottfried Leibniz believe?

The universe is better understood in terms of relationships of space and time than in terms of absolute facts and rules

Who has Gottfried Leibniz’s belief been influential to?

Scientists of the 20th and 21st century

What is the principle of sufficient reason?

Everything that exists must have been a reason or cause for its existence

What is believed about something existing according to the principle of sufficient reason?

If something exists there must be a reason why that thing exists

What is believed about a statement being true according to the principle of sufficient reason?

If a statement is true, there must be a reason why that thing exists

What is believed about something happens according to the principle of sufficient reason?

If something happens, there must be a reason why that thing happens

What is Leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason in his cosmological argument?

The must be an ultimate explanation for everything

What is Leibniz’s Geometry book example in his cosmological argument?

Each book is based on a previous book until you get back to the first book - then the question is what caused that book

What is Leibniz’s principle of God as an explanation in his cosmological argument?

You can go back to a certain point and it all links back to God which is separate from the world

What are 3 similarities between Aquinas’ and Leibniz’s cosmological arguments?

• Both arguments try to explain the cause of the universe

• Both make the jump to say the cause of the universe must be God

• Both are posteriori arguments based on cause and effects

What are 3 differences between Aquinas’ and Leibniz’s cosmological arguments?

• Leibniz does not use as many disputed ideas as Aquinas

• Leibniz’s use of the principle of sufficient reason whilst Aquinas focuses on origins

• Leibniz addresses the why of the cause

What are 3 weaknesses of Aquinas?

• He makes claims he cannot prove

• If one claims God is eternal, why can the universe also be?

• The Big Band was a random spontaneous act