the existence of God

What is the 'empirical premise' that serves as the starting point for the argument from contingency?

The premise that there are contingent things in the world.

According to Father Copleston, what defines a 'contingent thing'?

A thing which does not contain within itself the reason for its existence.

To explain the existence of a contingent thing, what must be mentioned according to Copleston?

Other things upon which its existence depends.

What is the 'Principle of Sufficient Reason' in the context of Copleston's argument?

The principle that there must be an adequate explanation for the existence of any particular being.

What is Copleston's definition of a 'necessary being'?

A being that must exist and cannot not exist.

According to Copleston, where does a necessary being contain the reason for its existence?

Within itself.

How does Copleston's view of Leibniz's 'truths of reason' differ from Leibniz's original philosophy?

Copleston does not believe that in the long run all truths are analytic propositions.

Leibniz divided propositions into two categories: 'truths of reason' and ______.

truths of fact.

Copleston argues that the proposition 'if there is a contingent being, then there is a necessary being' is ______.

necessary (or analytic).

Why is Copleston unwilling to argue for God's existence solely from the idea of His essence?

He believes humans lack a clear intuition of God's essence.

Copleston maintains that we come to a knowledge of God's existence through experience, which is knowledge ______.

$a \text{ posteriori}$.

In Copleston's view, why must God's essence and existence be identical?

If they were not, a sufficient reason for His existence would have to be found outside of Him.

How does Copleston define an 'adequate' explanation in the full sense?

A total explanation to which nothing further can be added.

What is Copleston's 'match flame' example used to illustrate?

The difference between a partial explanation and a total (adequate) explanation.

According to Copleston, what is the 'fundamental metaphysical argument' for God's existence?

The argument from contingent and necessary being (based on the Principle of Sufficient Reason).

Copleston argues that if anyone 'saw God,' they would see that God ______.

must exist.

Does Copleston consider God to be the 'cause of himself'?

No, he states God is his own sufficient reason but not his own cause.

Copleston distinguishes between a 'horizontal' series of events and the need for a ______ cause.

transcendent.

Russell argues that the word 'necessary' can only be applied significantly to what category of things?

Propositions.

According to Russell, what makes a proposition 'analytic'?

It is a proposition that is self-contradictory to deny.

Under what condition would Russell admit the concept of a 'necessary being'?

If there were a being whose existence it is self-contradictory to deny.

Russell states that a proposition like 'this is an animal' can never be analytic because analytic propositions are always ______.

complex (and logically late).

Does Russell believe there is a particular meaning in calling a being 'contingent'?

No, he rejects the significance of the term outside of a specific logic he does not accept.

Russell argues that the statement 'God exists' lacks meaning because existence is not a ______.

predicate.

According to Russell, one should not say 'TS Eliot exists' but rather 'the ______ of Murder in the Cathedral exists.'

author.

What example does Russell use to demonstrate that a subject described as 'existent' (like an 'existent round square') does not necessarily exist?

The existent round square.

Russell claims that existence can never be an ______ proposition because it is not a predicate.

analytic.

In Russell's view, can a 'subject named' significantly be said to exist?

No, only a subject described can be significantly said to exist.

Russell maintains that the question of the cause of the world is meaningless because the word 'God' is used as a ______.

proper name.

Russell defines the term 'analytic' as being applicable to propositions that are ______.

self-contradictory to deny.

Copleston defines 'the world' as the real or imagined ______ or aggregate of individual objects.

totality.

Russell's position on the existence of the universe is that it is 'without explanation,' whereas Copleston argues the world is ______ apart from God.

intrinsically unintelligible.

Copleston uses the analogy of adding up ______ to infinity to show that an infinite series of contingent beings still requires a necessary being.

chocolates.

What logical fallacy does Russell charge Copleston with when discussing the cause of the world?

The fallacy of composition (assuming the whole has a property because each part has that property).

To illustrate the fallacy of composition, Russell notes that while every man has a mother, the ______ does not.

human race.

What is Copleston's counter-argument to Russell's 'mother' analogy regarding the cause of the world?

He argues that the examples belong to different logical spheres.

Russell asserts that the concept of 'cause' is derived from our observation of ______ things, and cannot be applied to the total.

particular.

Copleston argues that a series of phenomenal causes is an ______ explanation of the series itself.

insufficient.

If a series of events is not caused and is sufficient to itself, what would Copleston call that series?

Necessary.

According to Copleston, why can the totality of objects not be 'necessary' if they are not caused?

Because each member of the totality is contingent.

Copleston argues that an infinite series of contingent beings is as unable to ______ as a single contingent being.

cause itself.

Which professional does Copleston compare to the metaphysician in their shared assumption that nature is intelligible?

The physicist (or the detective).

What does Copleston claim the physicist presupposes when investigating nature?

That there is some sense in looking for the causes of events.

Russell's gold analogy suggests that a physicist looking for causes is like a man looking for gold, who may simply have ______ if he finds none.

bad luck.

What is Russell's stance on the question 'Has the world a cause?'

He believes the question is illegitimate and has no meaning.

Russell describes the universe as ______ or 'just there,' whereas Copleston looks for its external reason.

gratuitous.

According to Russell, 'intelligible' refers to a thing's intrinsic nature, not its external ______.

relations.

What does Copleston believe is implied by the term 'gratuitous' when applied to the world?

That the world is inexplicable or lacks a reason for existence.

According to Copleston, why is it dogmatic to say one should not look for an explanation of the universe?

Because not finding an explanation is different from saying one should not look for one.

What is the primary difference between Russell's and Copleston's view of the universe's 'intelligibility'?

Copleston believes it requires an external reason; Russell believes it is simply a fact without explanation.