The Cosmological Argument ► Aquinas presents the argument in three “ways” but the argument is a single one. ► First – All things are moved by something else. The first mover must be God. ► Second – All things are caused by something else. The first cause must be God. ► Third – All things are contingent. The only non contingent being that causes all contingent things to be must be God. ► This argument says “nothing can come from nothing”. At the beginning of things there must be a first cause, mover, etc, which is itself not caused, moved. “All men understand this to be God” (Aquinas) ► The only alternative is an infinite regress. This is impossible for if there was no starting point nothing could exist now – but it does! So – no infinite regress – must be a first cause – this must be God.

Cosmological Argument. Strengths. ► Appeals to common sense in that all things are caused by other things. In all our experience nothing is without a cause. ► Infinite regress does seem impossible – how could something exist now if the process leading up to it literally never started? ► Argument only “proves” a first cause – not exactly the God of monotheism – but a first cause is consistent with God – doesn’t contradict idea of God found in monotheistic religions. ► Why doesn’t God need a cause if everything else does? Because God by nature is spirit, immaterial energy, but a universe is material and material seems to need cause where spirit doesn’t? ► Emotionally and aesthetically appealing because believers feel the cosmos to be non accidental and beautiful. Consistent with the idea of a created cosmos which monotheism teaches.

Cosmological Argument. Limitations ► Suggested by some scientists, Niels Bohr, that all things may not need a cause. Atomic particles appear to arise without cause. ► Some believe an infinite regress possible – but seem unsuccessful in explaining how this can allow the present to exist. ► Hume and Russell suggest that while things inside the cosmos may need a cause, the universe as a whole may not – we don’t observe universes starting so don’t know what is normal. But this is merely a suggestion rather than an argument. ► A first cause doesn’t need to be God. ► Scientists may suggest that matter & energy are eternal – but this is the infinite regress again! ► If the universe needs a cause so does God otherwise the argument is self conrtadictory.

Cosmological Argument. Homework ► Imagine you have to set a test on the Cosmological Argument. ► You wish to check on the following:- 1.An ability to state the argument clearly. 2.An ability to identify the strengths and limitations. 3.An ability to analyse & evaluate the strengths and limitations. 4.An ability to state a conclusion with supporting comment. ► You have a total of 20 marks. You may not ask less than three or more than five questions. ► You should also provide a bullet point marking scheme.