1 Explore the importance of inductive reasoning for the success of the Cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore the use of inductive reasoning in the cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore the characteristics of a posteriori and a priori arguments. (8) 2019 AS Paper Q
1 Explore reasoning from cosmological evidence in a posteriori and a priori arguments for Gods existence. (8)
1 Explore key ideas of Cosmological Arguments for the existence of God. (8) 2019 AS Paper Exam Q.
The cosmological argument is an a posteriori argument. It attempts to prove the existence of God in a number of ways. St Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274CE) came up with five ways to prove God’s existence. The first three ways are known as the cosmological and are about motion, cause and necessity. The fourth way is the moral and the fifth is the teleological. The first way is about motion. He argues that God is the unmoved mover. It focusses on everything constantly moving from potentiality to actuality and God must have existed to provide the potentiality for the universe to come into actuality. God is the top being so he is not moved by anybody else. If we were to trace back everything that is moved then we would eventually be traced back to God and we wouldn’t have to trace back any further than that. The second way is about God as the uncaused causer. The first way was linked to changes in state, whereas the second way is about what causes things to exist. We cannot have an infinite regression as it is not a sufficient explanation. Therefore there must be a God who is uncaused, but is the causer of everything else. The third way that Aquinas developed was the argument that God is a necessary being. It would be a logical contradiction to argue that God does not exist as he has the property of necessity. That means he cannot not exist. All contingent things depend on God and everything in the universe is contingent. Therefore the universe requires an explanation outside of itself. That is God. Aquinas’ three ways to prove God’s existence show logically that God is the designer of the universe. There are other forms of the cosmological argument. For instance, Leibniz argued about sufficient reason, whereby if something is logical and provides a good enough explanation then it is probably correct. Therefore Aquinas’ arguments are probably true. However it does not bring much value to those seeking religious faith or to those seeking to verify their own faith.
1 Assess the strength of ideas about movement and about cause and effect in the Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. (8) 2020 AS Q
1 Explore the idea of EITHER movement, OR cause and effect, in the cosmological argument for the existence of God. (8)
1 Explore the problem of infinite regress in Aquinas’ three ways of the cosmological argument for the existence of G-d. (8)
1 Explore the key ideas of contingency and necessary existence in the Cosmological Argument. (8) 2017 AS Exam Q.
1 Explore Aquinas’ Third Way in relation to the cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore the importance of the interpretation of experience for the success of the cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore how explanation, and interpretation of experience led some scholars to reject an infinite regress. (8)
1 Explore the principle of sufficient reason as an explanation for G-d’s existence. (8)
1 Explore the principle of sufficient reason in relation to the cosmological argument (8)
1 Explore the idea of the universe as brute fact and the problem of infinite regression. (8)
1 Explore how the claim the universe is brute fact, and debates about infinite regress challenge the cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore the key ideas put forward by the Kalam argument and William Lane Craig. (8)
1 Explore the Kalam version of the cosmological argument for G-d’s existence. (8)
1 Explore the key ideas associated with the Kalam version of the cosmological argument (8)
1 Explore the strengths OR the weaknesses of the cosmological argument from movement and cause. (8)
1 Explore the weaknesses of the argument from necessary existence and God as a necessary being. (8)
1 Explore the weaknesses of principle of sufficient reason as a cosmological argument for G-d’s existence. (8)
1 Explore the strengths of the Kalam version of the cosmological argument for G-d’s existence. (8)
1 Explore the criticism of the cosmological argument for G-d’s existence that it only provides probability rather than proof. (8)
1 Explore Russell's idea of the universe as a brute fact in debates about infinite regress. (8)
1 Explore Kant's criticisms of the cosomological argument. (8)
1 Explore the key ideas of Kant in relation to the cosmological argument. (8)
1 Explore Hume's criticisms of the cosmological argument. (8)