arguments for the existence of god

cosmological arguments

Arguments that try to show that from the fact that the universe exists, God exists (first cause)

classic forms of cosmological arguments

aristotle, aquinas - everything in motion is moved by something else, there must be a first unmoved mover (god)

objections to cosmological argument

1. some infinite regresses aren't problematic (negative integers, infinite space)

2. argument doesn't establish god's traditional attributes (omnis)

3. why must first cause be god and not something else (big bang)

modern forms of cosmological arguments

kalam - whatever begins to exist has a cause, universe began to exist, therefore universe has to cause (claimed god)

necessary beings

Beings which, if they exist, cannot not exist; beings which are not dependent on any other for their existence (god)

contingent beings

Beings that depend upon something else for their existence. They have the property that they need not be, or could have been different (me)

descartes cosmological argument (simple terms)

god is infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, powerful and benevolent, there must be as much perfection in the cause as the effect (perfect can't come from not perfect)

descartes cosmological argument

1. i. have a clear and distinct idea of perfect, infinite being (god)

2. this idea must have been caused by something just as great

3. I am not perfect or infinite, so I couldn't have created it

4. therefore, the idea must have been caused by a truly perfect and infinite being

therefore, god exists

descartes anticipates objections to his cosmological argument

1. why couldn't descartes have created idea of god - descartes isn't perfect or infinite

2. could idea of god come from removing descartes limitations - idea of god is positively infinite, not just absence of limits

3. could idea come from combining all perfections found in various beings - gods perfections are unified inseparable not a sum

other critiques of descartes' cosmological argument

1. idea of perfection and infinity is vague

2. idea of god may be too vague

3. does perfection come in degrees or is it a maximal property

ontological arguments

Arguments that reason from the concept of God to the existence of God (exists by definition) - god is greater than what can be conceived, real things are better than imagined, so the greater thing is real

critiques of ontological arguments

parody arguments - similar reasoning could "prove" existence of perfect island, cat, pizza = argument proves too much

parody

shows argument is flawed by constructing parallel argument with obvious fake conclusion (proves too much)

reductio ad absurdum

assume opposite of claim, show it leads to contradiction, repute of claim

causal principle

cause of something must contain at least as much perfection as the effect

causal principle counterexamples

1. evolution - over time, effects (organisms) can be more perfect than cause

2. randomness - sometimes chance leads to more perfect outcomes than causes

universal claims

Claims about entire classes of things (all Fs are Gs)

universal claims problem

strong and easily refuted by 1 counterexample

god and deception (descartes)

descartes claims god cant devieve because deception implies imperfection

counterexamples - magician (good deception), white lies (kind deception)

cartesian circle

The idea that what is perceived is clearly true on the basis that God, an infinitely perfect being and not a deceiver, does not allow mistaken perceptions - god proves gods existence (circular reasoning)

descartes ontological argument

1. all that i clearly and distinctly understand to belong to something really does belong to it

2. I clearly and distinctly understand that existence belong to god's nature

therefore, god exists

critiques of descartes ontological argument

1. premise assumes gods existence (circular)

2. concept of 'existence' as a perfection is questions