Cosmological Argument

Aquinas Aquinas First WayFirst Way – Unmoved Mover – Unmoved Mover

‘‘A posteriori’ argument based on logic taken A posteriori’ argument based on logic taken from sense experiencefrom sense experience

Concentrated on change in the world.Concentrated on change in the world. ““Anything in process of change is being Anything in process of change is being

changed by something changed by something else.”else.” The knock on effect cannot go back infinityThe knock on effect cannot go back infinity Unmoved Mover started it off.Unmoved Mover started it off.

Aquinas Second Way – Uncaused Aquinas Second Way – Uncaused CauserCauser

Everything in the universe is in the cycle of Everything in the universe is in the cycle of cause and effect.cause and effect.

No endless cause and effects throughout No endless cause and effects throughout eternity eternity

First cause created by God which is First cause created by God which is unaffected unaffected by the cause/ effect cycle.by the cause/ effect cycle.

Aquinas Third Way – Contingency Aquinas Third Way – Contingency and Necessityand Necessity

Everything is contingent - relies upon Everything is contingent - relies upon something else for existence.something else for existence.

There must be a necessary being There must be a necessary being (explanation for own existence within (explanation for own existence within itself) that started it.itself) that started it.

Kalam Cosmological ArgumentKalam Cosmological Argument

Created by al Kindi and al Ghazali.Created by al Kindi and al Ghazali.Everything has to have a beginning Everything has to have a beginning

including the universe.including the universe.The universe cannot go on infinitely.The universe cannot go on infinitely.Then there must be a God who willed it to Then there must be a God who willed it to

begin.begin.

SupportersSupporters

William Lane CraigWilliam Lane Craig

No such thing as infinityNo such thing as infinity Universe not infinite must Universe not infinite must

be a beginning.be a beginning. Beginning must be Beginning must be

caused by something.caused by something. For Craig this is a For Craig this is a

“personal being” who “personal being” who freely chooses to create freely chooses to create the worldthe world

Ed MillerEd Miller

Events are causedEvents are caused The beginning of the The beginning of the

universe was an event universe was an event Therefore must be a Therefore must be a

causecause This First Cause is God.This First Cause is God.

Critics: Hume Critics: Hume Fallacy of Composition = Fallacy of Composition = things in the universe things in the universe

are caused by something does not mean are caused by something does not mean universe as a whole has a cause. universe as a whole has a cause.

Bertrand Russell supports this by saying that Bertrand Russell supports this by saying that every man has a mother is not proof that the every man has a mother is not proof that the human race has a mother.human race has a mother.

HumeHume The proposition The proposition ‘ Whatever has a beginning of ‘ Whatever has a beginning of

existence must have a cause,’existence must have a cause,’ is meaningless. is meaningless.

It is It is meaninglessmeaningless to talk about anything that was not to talk about anything that was not either a synthetic or an analytic.either a synthetic or an analytic.

Analytic: Bachelors are unmarried. Simple by defining Analytic: Bachelors are unmarried. Simple by defining bachelor the rest of the statement is meaningful within bachelor the rest of the statement is meaningful within itself. itself.

Synthetic: Requires external evidence to prove it right. Synthetic: Requires external evidence to prove it right. Herbert is a Bachelor – you actually need to find Herbert Herbert is a Bachelor – you actually need to find Herbert to check he is unmarried.to check he is unmarried.

Frederick Copleston’s Argument from Frederick Copleston’s Argument from ContingencyContingency

1.1. Things in the world are contingent, dependant on Things in the world are contingent, dependant on something else for its existence e.g. our parents for us.something else for its existence e.g. our parents for us.

2.2. What created the universe must be external from it just What created the universe must be external from it just like our parents are external from us.like our parents are external from us.

3.3. a “necessary being” created the universe = Goda “necessary being” created the universe = God

“ “ A being that must and cannot not exist.”A being that must and cannot not exist.”

Copleston VS.Copleston VS.Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell

Cannot have a ‘necessary’ beingCannot have a ‘necessary’ being. . Only propositions Only propositions (statements of reason) are ‘necessary.’ (statements of reason) are ‘necessary.’

Cause and effect will stretch into Cause and effect will stretch into infinity in the futureinfinity in the future so why cant it stretch infinitely into the past? So no use so why cant it stretch infinitely into the past? So no use for the first cause.for the first cause.

If God is the explanation of everything and everything If God is the explanation of everything and everything requires an explanation, then requires an explanation, then what is the explanation what is the explanation of Godof God??

Why should God be self explanatoryWhy should God be self explanatory in the way that in the way that the universe is not. Why cant the universe the universe is not. Why cant the universe simply existsimply exist

CriticismsCriticisms Big BangBig Bang – random particles caused the – random particles caused the

universe not God. universe not God. But: was the BB a deliberate action of God?But: was the BB a deliberate action of God? Steady State TheorySteady State Theory - by Bondi, Gold and - by Bondi, Gold and

Hoyle.Hoyle. Energy cannot be created – simply Energy cannot be created – simply

redistributed redistributed Beginning of universe not God but Beginning of universe not God but

redistribution of energy.redistribution of energy.

CriticismsCriticisms

Cause and effect cannot be infinite or can it? Cause and effect cannot be infinite or can it? Infinite numbersInfinite numbers in Pi TT in Pi TT

Aquinas said infinity was impossible so must be Aquinas said infinity was impossible so must be a God but... a God but... God is infiniteGod is infinite!!!!

Brian Davies Cosmological argument cannot Brian Davies Cosmological argument cannot stand alone as proof of God’s existence. stand alone as proof of God’s existence. Needs Needs other supportother support/ evidence/ evidence