Philosophical Arguments for the Existence of God

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms from the lecture on philosophical arguments for the existence of God, including the ontological and cosmological arguments, as well as their implications and criticisms.

Greatest Velocity

The maximum speed at which all mass and information in the universe can travel, currently accepted to be the speed of light (300,000 meters/second).

Ontological Argument

An argument for God's existence based on the concept of a perfect being; if God is perfect, then He must exist.

Cosmological Argument

Arguments asserting that the universe must have a cause or creator; often based on empirical facts.

A Posteriori

Arguments that are based on experience or empirical evidence.

First Cause Argument

An argument positing that there must be an initial cause that caused everything else; associated with Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Dependent Being

A being that relies on something else for its existence.

Self-Existent Being

A being that exists independently and does not require anything else for its existence; often equated with God in philosophical arguments.

Cogent Argument

An argument that is convincing and logically sound, where all premises are true and relevant.

Infinite Series of Causes

A theoretical sequence of causes without a beginning; a concept debated in the context of cosmological arguments.

Super-God

A hypothetical higher power suggested to explain the existence of God; raises questions about the nature of causality in arguments.