the cosmological argument

• What question does Leibniz pose regarding existence?

  “Why is there something rather than nothing?”
• What do cosmological arguments claim about God's existence?

  God's existence explains what exists.
• What type of argument is the typical cosmological argument?

  A posteriori
• How do cosmological arguments typically begin?

  With observations of the world.
• What are the two broad categories of cosmological arguments?

  Causation and contingency.
• What is Aquinas' first way based on?

  Motion
• How does Aquinas define motion?

  Any kind of change.
• What is required for something to change, according to Aquinas?

  It must have the potential to change.
• What does Aquinas conclude about things in motion?

  They must have been moved by something else.
• What is the implication if there were no first mover, according to Aquinas?

  There would be no motion now.
• What must the first mover be, according to Aquinas?

  Unmoved (pure actuality).
• What does Aquinas' second way focus on?

  Atemporal causation.
• What is efficient causation?


  It explains how a thing came into being.
• What are the two types of efficient causation?

  Sustaining and temporal.
• How does temporal causation differ from sustaining causation?

  Temporal causation allows independent effects.
• What is an example of temporal causation given by Aquinas?

  A father creating a son independently.
• What is sustaining causation characterized by?

  A vertical hierarchy of causes.
• What does the first cause do in sustaining causation?

  Creates intermediate causes and ultimate effects.
• Why is the hand analogy not perfect for Aquinas' argument?

  Only one first sustaining cause exists: God.
• What does Aquinas mean by "ontologically first"?

  All subsequent motion depends on it.
• What does Aquinas think about temporal series having no first cause?

  It is possible for temporal series.
• What does Edward Feser argue about sustaining series?

  A primary cause is required for causal power.
• What is impossible for Aquinas regarding secondary causes?

  An infinite regress of explanation for causal power.
• What does Feser say about a paintbrush's causal power?

  A paintbrush cannot move itself.
• What does Copleston argue about the first member in a causal series?

  It is necessary to explain motion or causation.
• What does the Kalam cosmological argument focus on?

  The coming into being of the universe.
• Who popularized the Kalam cosmological argument?

  1. L. Craig.
• What does the first premise of the Kalam argument state?

  Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
• What does the second premise of the Kalam argument assert?

  The universe began to exist.
• What does Craig argue about scientific explanation and the universe's creation?

  Scientific explanation cannot apply to its creation.
• What qualities must the being that created the universe possess?

  Omnipotent and timeless.
• What does Craig argue about the impossibility of an infinite regress?

  Infinity cannot exist in reality.
• How does Craig illustrate the absurdity of an actual infinite?

  With an infinite library example.
• What does Craig argue about traversing an infinite?

  You cannot reach this moment if infinite.
• What evidence does Craig use against infinite regress?

  Evidence from modern cosmology.
• What do critics argue against the cosmological argument?

  There could be an infinite regress.
• What does Hume think about infinite regress?

  It cannot be ruled out a priori.
• How does Craig's library example relate to infinite sets?

  It shows absurdity in actual infinite.
• What does Cantor argue about infinite sets?

  They have different mathematical properties.
• What does Hume think about metaphysical impossibility?

  We lack evidence to judge it.