Cosmological

a posteriori

Knowledge gained after experiencing something

First cause

The existing and contingent universe proves this.

First way

motion

Why must God exist?

There must be a first cause, infinite regress is not possible.

Second way

Cause

What does the second way suggest?

nothing that exists can be self-caused.

Third way

Contingency

What does the third way suggest?

All beings are contingent. However, something can’t be created from nothing. This means that there must be a first mover, a non-contingent causer, which is God.

Kalam

An Arabic theory based similarly on the first cause of motion. Later developed by William Craig.

What does Craig’s Kalam argument suggest?

The universe is infinite, so there must be a first cause which is God.

Aquinas

‘There is no case known… in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself.’

Inductive

An argument that leads to a possible conclusion, not a conclusive one.