Cosmological Argument
Based on
Arguments by Aquinas
Bibliography:
Problems
A Posteriori
Empirical Evidence
Argument from contingency
Argument from degrees
Argument from causation
Argument from motion
Contingency is any being that simply could have not existed
Similar to the argument from movement but with causes.
We live in a world where things are moving
movement if caused by things that cause motion
Everything that moves must have been moved by something else that was also moving
something must have started the motion in the first place
There must have been a time when nothing was in motion and a static being that started the motion
there cant be an infinite regress of movers
There must be a first mover, itself unmoved, and thats God
Nothing causes itself and there cant be an infinite amount of causes
There must be a fist causer, itself uncaused, and that must be God
eg: we are contingent
There must have been something to stop the eternal regression of contingency, that something being God
We cant have a world where everything is contingent because then it could have all never existed
So theres a need for at least 1 necessary being
A being that has always and will always exist. And that cant not exist
Contingent things can cause other contingent things but there cant only be contingent things otherwise it becomes an infinite regress
properties come in degrees (such as grading systems or big and small which cant exist one without the other)
In order for there to be degrees of perfection there must be something perfect against which everything else is measured.
God is the pinnacle of perfection
Doesnt apply to any particular God
Doesnt rule out Polytheism
Does Not prove the existence of a sentient being
an Egg or Rock
Aquinas assumes there must be a starting point for everything
Self defeating
If everything must have a cause other than itself why shouldnt God be subjected to those same stipulations.
And if God is exempt from them why cant something else also be exempt from those rules?
More of an argument type than a particular argument
Popular argument for the existance of God