cosmological argument

AO1: Inductive arguments - Cosmological.

Inductive proof:
Arguments that put forward a conclusion and are constructed via evidence and experience
Inductive proofs are posteriori as they require evidence and experience for them to make sense.

The concept of a ‘posteriori’:
A statement based on actual observation, evidence, experimental data or experience. It relates to inductive reasoning.

Definition of Cosmological Argument:

• Cosmological arguments are an inductive proofs for God’s existence. The cosmological argument uses the evidence of the existing and contingent universe as the basis for it’s argument in suggesting an origin e.g a first cause.

Aquinas’ first way (motion/change)

"First Way is" "Motion or Change" " - Upon observing the universe, everything maintains a constant state of motion. They are not moved by their own accord. They are moved or changed by external factors. If we looked back down the sequence of motion, we would find the ""unmoved mover"" aka God. ""It is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God"" The first Way is based on Aristotle's potentiality (where something has the possibility of changing and moving into something) and actuality (where it actually achieves or reaches its potential)"

Efficent Cause
The third party that moves potentality to actuality.

An example of the first way (motion/change)

• A cold piece of metal, it has the potential to become hot but it won’t heat up on it’s own. If you place it near a fire, the fire (an actual source of heat) causes the metal to change and become hot. Aquinas argues that this chain of change/motion cannot go back infinitely, there must be a ‘first mover’ aka God that must have started everything but wasn’t moved by anything else. Basically a change in state.

Aquinas quote - Summa Theologica: ‘for motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentality to actuality’

Aquinas’ second way (cause and effect)

• The Second Way is" "Cause and Effect"  - 'In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes.' He observed that everything in the universe has a cause. There cannot be an infinite number of causes (ad infinitum, infinite regress) There must be an uncaused cause - God. This then leads on to the question ‘what was the first cause’ and for Aqunias, the answer is God.

• Aquanius states here that not only the cause and effect is simple, undeniable law of the universe but it’s also impossible for anything within the universe to cause itself. (it would be like you being your own parent, you cannot exist before you exist, you need something else to bring you into existence) 

• Example: Dominoes 

Aquinas’ third way (contingency and necessity)

• Aquinas notes that everything that exists has the possibility of not existing (i.e is contingent) and draws the conclusion that if this was true of everything in existence then nothing would ever have to come into existence. This is because in order for contingent beings to exist, there has to be a non contingent (i.e necessary) bring that brought everything else into existence. For Aquinas the necessary being is God.

Kalam Cosmological Argument w/ reference to WLC.
A modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of God by Christian apologist William Craig. It originated from the work of mediaeval islamic scholars. Craig posits that everything that begins to exist in our universe has a cause The universe began to exist so must also have a cause (rejection of an infinity) The cause was an eternal, transcendent, immaterial personal agent

His argument was basically

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence.

2. The universe began to exist

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause of its existence.

4. Since no scientific explanation (in terms of physical laws) can provide a causal account of the origin of the universe, the cause must be personal. (Explanation is given in terms of a personal agent) 

Rejection of actual infinities
An actual infinite cannot exist a beginningless temporal series of events cannot exist, in order to explain this an example of library is often referred to "Craig uses the example of a library. A library with an infinite number of books. If it has an infinite number of both red and black books. That must mean that the number of black books is equal to the total sum of red and black since they are both infinitely large. This doesn't make sense as the subset cannot be equal to the entire set. Therefore Craig concludes that infinity cannot exist.

Craig explain Concept of a personal creator

"Questioned why a timeless, eternal cause would create our universe that has a beginning ? There was a conscious choice that was made to begin our universe's construction. He argues that our universe would not have occurred if its cause was simply based on a mechanically operating set of laws. Example - A pool of water being frozen was caused by a state of eternal sub-zero temperature, then the water would be frozen for all of eternity. Whereas if the cause was a personal agent that controlled the temperature, then they could freely give rise to new beginnings and unfreeze the water."

The Evangelical movement within Christianity has been particularly supportive of WLC’s version of Kalam Cosmological Argument, this is because it aligns with their personal belief in a personal, transcendent God who created the ex nihilo (out of nothing) Craig’s argument emphasises the beginning of the universe supported by both philosophical and scientific reasoning e.g thethe Big Bang which resonates with their theological commitment to the Bible’s creation narrative