Attempts to establish a conclusion absolutely. Deductive argument
What is an a posteriori argument?
Aims to make a conclusion probable. Inductive argument
What are the advantages to an a posteriori argument?
Premises are based on experience
Conclusion is probable - easier to convince people
What are the disadvantages of an a posteriori argument?
Human experience is fallible
If we don't agree on a premise then the argument fails
The conclusion is only probable
What is the Kalam argument?
Everything that has a beginning has a cause. Since the universe has a beginning it must have a cause outside the universe
What is the 'chain of causes' argument?
Every event is caused by some previous event, creating a chain of causes. This chain of causes must have a First Cause, which it itself is not caused
What is the argument for contingency?
Events in the universe are contingent (they need not have occurred) so must be in a chain of events caused to occur. This chain must have its origins in a necessary being/event
What is the principle of sufficient reasoning?
Nothing is the way it is without sufficient reason for being so(Gottfried Leibniz)
What does infinite regress mean?
Goes back forever
Did Plato believe that God was in esse or in fieri?
In fieri
Did Aristotle believe that the Prime Mover was in esse or in fieri?
In esse
Believed the universe had existed for an infinite amount of time
What was Aquinas' First Way?
Based on movement (change)
Nothing can move itself
Everything requires something to move it
Causes don't go back infinity so there must be a Prime Mover
What is Aquinas' second way?
Everything has a cause
Nothing is its own cause
You cannot have an infinite no. of causes
Therefore there must be an uncaused causer
What is Aquinas' third way?
Nothing lasts forever
Therefore it is possible the universe has not lasted forever
Nothing can be made from nothing
Therefore there must be something eternal - God
What are Hume's criticisms to Aquinas' argument?
No reason to believe everything has a cause - could be infinite regress
Human experience is limited and subjective
The fallacy of composition
If God can be his own cause then why can't the universe?
Even God existed it would not prove he is omnibenevolent etc
What is the difference between the Kalam argument and Aquinas' Three Ways?
Kalam argument suggests that the universe is finite and therefore there must be a God
Three Ways suggests the universe is not infinite because there is a God
What does the infinite hotel show?
If there are an infinite amount of guests and another guest turns up then it wasn't infinity in the first place