1. Cosmological Argument What is it?

2. Cosmological Argument The simple starting point is that we know the universe exists (a posteriori) The simple starting point is that we know the universe exists (a posteriori) Everything else we know about, no matter how complex, seems to have been caused by something else (a posteriori) Everything else we know about, no matter how complex, seems to have been caused by something else (a posteriori) Surely there must be a cause for the existence of the Universe (induction) Surely there must be a cause for the existence of the Universe (induction) Aristotle tries to show there is a cause Aristotle tries to show there is a cause

3. Aristotle Uses reductio ad absurdum method to show there is a cause of the universe Uses reductio ad absurdum method to show there is a cause of the universe Believes he shows why it is ridiculous to believe there is no original cause Believes he shows why it is ridiculous to believe there is no original cause If there was nothing in the beginning then there would still be nothing now! If there was nothing in the beginning then there would still be nothing now! Nothing can’t change nothing into something! Nothing can’t change nothing into something!

4. Aquinas Builds on Aristotle but takes it further – the cause is God Builds on Aristotle but takes it further – the cause is God Uncaused Cause Uncaused Cause Unmoved Mover Unmoved Mover Possibility & necessity Possibility & necessity God is necessary everything else is contingent! God is necessary everything else is contingent!

5. Objections Schoolboy Objection – what caused God? Schoolboy Objection – what caused God? Universe could be the necessary cause! Universe could be the necessary cause! Hume – there might be a first cause but we cannot say it is God! Hume – there might be a first cause but we cannot say it is God! Hume – if there is no necessary link between cause & effect the argument fails Hume – if there is no necessary link between cause & effect the argument fails Fallacy of Composition Fallacy of Composition

6. Replies to objections Schoolboy Objection Schoolboy Objection Seems to misunderstand the distinction of God as necessary Seems to misunderstand the distinction of God as necessary If God were contingent it would have a point! If God were contingent it would have a point! God is God because God is necessary so to ask what caused God is to presume God is contingent. God is God because God is necessary so to ask what caused God is to presume God is contingent.

7. Universe is necessary cause! We know that things within the Universe require a cause so the universe must also need a cause We know that things within the Universe require a cause so the universe must also need a cause To say the universe is necessary makes no sense as we know things within it are contingent To say the universe is necessary makes no sense as we know things within it are contingent The Big bang theory seems to bear this out – the universe did have a cause The Big bang theory seems to bear this out – the universe did have a cause So did the Big Bang – but what? So did the Big Bang – but what?

8. Hume Admits it is very likely that the universe needs an ultimate or first cause Admits it is very likely that the universe needs an ultimate or first cause Also admits that this cause is necessary Also admits that this cause is necessary States that we cannot know the ‘nature’ of a necessary thing because it is so unlike us States that we cannot know the ‘nature’ of a necessary thing because it is so unlike us We cannot thus say it can ONLY be what we think God is We cannot thus say it can ONLY be what we think God is

9. Hume Argues if there is no necessary link between cause and effect then the C.A. fails Argues if there is no necessary link between cause and effect then the C.A. fails If all we see are constant conjunctions then it is very hard to insist on a chain of infinite regress of causes If all we see are constant conjunctions then it is very hard to insist on a chain of infinite regress of causes If there is no chain of infinite regress of causes then the C.A. doesn’t get started If there is no chain of infinite regress of causes then the C.A. doesn’t get started