3.2.3 Cosmological arguments

• What is the primary aim of cosmological arguments?

  Prove the existence of God
• Match the cosmological argument with its key premise:

  Kalam Cosmological Argument ↔️ The universe began to exist

  Leibnizian Cosmological Argument ↔️ The universe is contingent

  Thomistic Cosmological Argument ↔️ Things in the universe are caused by other things
• The First Cause Argument aims to show that God is the ultimate explanation for the universe's existence.


  True
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument avoids the fallacy of composition.

  False
• The fallacy of composition occurs when properties of individual objects are incorrectly applied to the entire universe
• The Argument from Contingency posits that the universe is contingent, meaning it depends on something else for its existence
• Cosmological arguments rely on the principle of causality, which states that everything in the universe has a cause
• What is the Kalam Cosmological Argument based on?

  Beginning of the universe
• What does the Kalam Cosmological Argument identify as the cause of the universe?

  God
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument aligns with the Big Bang theory
• The Argument from Contingency states that the universe is contingent, meaning it depends on something else for its existence
• The Argument from Contingency assumes that infinite regress is impossible.

  True
• Match the objection to cosmological arguments with its response:

  Infinite Regress ↔️ Lacks a satisfactory explanation

  Anthropomorphism ↔️ First cause need not be personal

  Multiverse Theory ↔️ Existence requires explanation
• Cosmological arguments may commit the fallacy of composition by applying properties of individual objects to the entire universe
• The First Cause in cosmological arguments is often identified as God.


  True
• Arrange the key steps of the First Cause Argument in the correct order:

  1️⃣ Everything in the universe is caused by something else

  2️⃣ There cannot be an infinite regress of causes

  3️⃣ There must be an uncaused cause
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument aligns with the Big Bang theory
• Steps of the Kalam Cosmological Argument

  1️⃣ Everything that begins to exist has a cause

  2️⃣ The universe began to exist

  3️⃣ Therefore, the universe has a cause

  4️⃣ This cause is God
• Steps of the Argument from Contingency

  1️⃣ Everything in the universe is contingent

  2️⃣ Contingent beings require a cause

  3️⃣ An infinite chain of causes is impossible

  4️⃣ There must be a necessary being (God)
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument asserts that the universe began to exist
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument assumes that the universe has always existed.

  False
• Modern multiverse theories provide alternative explanations for the universe's origins that do not necessitate a divine creator.


  True
• Steps of the Argument from Contingency

  1️⃣ Everything in the universe is contingent

  2️⃣ Contingent beings require a cause

  3️⃣ An infinite chain of causes is impossible

  4️⃣ There must be a necessary first cause
• What do supporters of cosmological arguments say about the first cause in response to anthropomorphism?

  Need not be personal
• What is a key strength of cosmological arguments in their logical structure?

  Clear premise-conclusion format
• Modern multiverse theories offer alternative explanations for the universe's origins without necessitating a single divine creator.


  True
• Cosmological arguments begin with the premise that the universe is contingent
• The First Cause Argument rejects the possibility of an infinite regress of causes.
• What is the key premise of the Kalam Cosmological Argument?

  The universe began to exist
• What does the Kalam Cosmological Argument conclude about the cause of the universe?

  The universe was caused by God
• The Kalam Cosmological Argument asserts that everything that begins to exist has a cause.


  True
• Contingent beings can cause themselves.

  False
• The First Cause Argument asserts that an infinite regress of causes is possible.

  False
• The first premise of the Kalam Cosmological Argument is that everything that begins to exist has a cause
• Match the cosmological argument with its key premise:

  Kalam ↔️ Universe began to exist

  First Cause ↔️ Universe requires an uncaused cause

  Contingency ↔️ Universe is contingent
• What is the fallacy of composition often cited as a weakness of the Kalam Cosmological Argument?

  Applying object properties to the universe
• What type of being does the Argument from Contingency identify as the necessary first cause?

  Necessary being
• Critics of cosmological arguments suggest that an infinite chain of causes, known as infinite regress, is possible.
• Defenders of cosmological arguments claim the causality principle is a fundamental metaphysical truth.


  True
• What is the primary challenge posed by the concept of an "uncaused cause" in cosmological arguments?

  Questions about its origin