1. Definitions Task – Introduction H/W Common errors – Use of Wikipedia. Use of a regular dictionary instead of a Philosophy dictionary (try Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Writing down definitions which you do not understand My typos!

2. Definitions Task – Introduction H/W You have 10 minutes to rewrite your definition work using the corrections on your work and the generic ones below Synthetic – the truth value of a statement can only be determined by relying upon observation and experience. Posterori – Knowledge dependent on experience Priori – Knowledge independent of experience Deductive arguments – Correct ideas made from possibly false statements Inductive – Probable/general ideas from facts/statements

3. A Posteriori Inductive Synthetic Cosmos – the universe seen as a well ordered whole What do you think from this that the cosmological argument states as its argument for the existence of God? Try to define the key words, you looked at them in your library task

4. Objectives To describe the Cosmological Argument as a case for the existence of God To explain what different scholars have contributed to the argument

5. The Basic Cosmological Argument Things come into existence because something has caused them to happen Things are caused to exist, but they do not have to exist (contingent) There is a chain of causes that go back to the beginning of time Time began with the creation of the universe There must have been a first cause, which brought the universe into existence The first cause must have necessary existence (there is no possibility of it not existing) to cause the contingent (can either exist or not exist) universe God has necessary existence Therefore God is the first cause of the contingent universe’s existence

6. Do you think there is any evidence for/against God? Half to a side of A4 depending on handwriting – you must explain your answers and give evidence from the world

7. Classical background “Shall we say then that it is the soul which controls heaven and earth”. Laws Plato’s important distinction was between things that had the power to move or change both themselves and others - Primary movers; and those things which could only move or change others once they had been moved – Secondary movers. Only souls can be primary movers – so whatever caused the universe must be a soul. “The series must start with something, since nothing can come from nothing” Metaphysics Aristotle believed all changes must come from some ultimate source. It is not possible for there not to be a first cause, as if there were not, there would be nothing. There is no manner in which the universe would come into being out of nothing owing to no action (!) therefore there must have been an initial cause. Aristotle (390-323 BCE) Plato (428-348 BCE)