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AQUINAS' COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT - Coggle Diagram
AQUINAS' COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
THE STATUS OF HIS ARGUMENT AS 'PROOF'
DOES OFFER PROOF
Aquinas' argument is rationally and empirically based
His reasoning and appeal to observation provide strong support for theists
GERRY HUGHES: Cosmological argument is a more satisfactory explanation than the universe being a 'brute fact'
this also relates to Lebniz's 'principle of sufficient reason' (everything must have a sufficient reason)
The third way is one part of an inductive argument for the existence of God
inductive arguments are valued for their use of observation to teach probabilistic conclusions
DOESNT OFFER PROOF
Only deductive arguments can give absolute proof
the cosmological argument is inductive so can never be absolutely certain
The argument may be unable to convince athiests
instead, it can only offer reasoning ti those who already believe in God
Fideists would argue that the belief in God is a matter of faith, rather than proof
you should believe in god through faith alone, rather than seeking to prove his existence
STEPHEN EVANS: this argument doesnt prove the God of Theism
it points to a deist God
THE VALUE OF IS ARGUMENT FOR RELIGIOUS FAITH
IT DOESNT HAVE VALUE FOR FAITH
For Fideists, rational arguments play no part in faith as they fo not lead to commitment
Belief in God must be based on 'faith alone'- you cannot try to prove God exists in this way
Aquinas himself didnt thunk his argument was sufficient on its own
There are some key ideas about the christian God (e.g the trinity) which are revealed in the bible and teachings of the church
Therefore you ned faith too
doesnt successfully address the problem of evil
IT DOES HAVE VALUE FOR FAITH
POPE JOHN PAUL II said reason and faith are mutually supportive
Aquinas's argument is rationally and empirically based
his reasoning and appeal to observation provides strong support for theists
its consistent with biblical teaching (GENESIS 1:1)
it confirms biblical teaching that theres a 'guiding hand' that is directing the whole of nature and human lives in a purposeful way
His argument gives evidence to support the belief that God exists
His description of the the universes causation encourages belief in God