Cosmological Cosmological ArgumentArgument

What is it?What is it?

Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument

The simple starting point is that we The simple starting point is that we know the universe exists (a posteriori)know the universe exists (a posteriori)

Everything else we know about, no Everything else we know about, no matter how complex, seems to have matter how complex, seems to have been caused by something else (a been caused by something else (a posteriori)posteriori)

Surely there must be a cause for the Surely there must be a cause for the existence of the Universe (induction)existence of the Universe (induction)

Aristotle tries to show there is a causeAristotle tries to show there is a cause

AristotleAristotle

Uses reductio ad absurdum method to Uses reductio ad absurdum method to show there is a cause of the universeshow there is a cause of the universe

Believes he shows why it is ridiculous Believes he shows why it is ridiculous to believe there is no original causeto believe there is no original cause

If there was nothing in the beginning If there was nothing in the beginning then there would still be nothing now!then there would still be nothing now!

Nothing can’t change nothing into Nothing can’t change nothing into something!something!

AquinasAquinas

Builds on Aristotle but takes it Builds on Aristotle but takes it further – the cause is Godfurther – the cause is God

Uncaused CauseUncaused Cause Unmoved MoverUnmoved Mover Possibility & necessityPossibility & necessity God is necessary everything else is God is necessary everything else is

contingent!contingent!

ObjectionsObjections

Schoolboy Objection – what caused Schoolboy Objection – what caused God?God?

Universe could be the necessary cause!Universe could be the necessary cause! Hume – there might be a first cause but Hume – there might be a first cause but

we cannot say it is God!we cannot say it is God! Hume – if there is no necessary link Hume – if there is no necessary link

between cause & effect the argument between cause & effect the argument failsfails

Fallacy of CompositionFallacy of Composition

Replies to objectionsReplies to objections

Schoolboy ObjectionSchoolboy Objection Seems to misunderstand the Seems to misunderstand the

distinction of God as necessarydistinction of God as necessary If God were contingent it would have If God were contingent it would have

a point!a point! God is God because God is necessary God is God because God is necessary

so to ask what caused God is to so to ask what caused God is to presume God is contingent.presume God is contingent.

Universe is necessary Universe is necessary cause!cause!

We know that things within the We know that things within the Universe require a cause so the Universe require a cause so the universe must also need a causeuniverse must also need a cause

To say the universe is necessary makes To say the universe is necessary makes no sense as we know things within it no sense as we know things within it are contingentare contingent

The Big bang theory seems to bear this The Big bang theory seems to bear this out – the universe did have a causeout – the universe did have a cause

So did the Big Bang – but what?So did the Big Bang – but what?

HumeHume

Admits it is very likely that the universe Admits it is very likely that the universe needs an ultimate or first causeneeds an ultimate or first cause

Also admits that this cause is necessaryAlso admits that this cause is necessary States that we cannot know the ‘nature’ States that we cannot know the ‘nature’

of a necessary thing because it is so of a necessary thing because it is so unlike usunlike us

We cannot thus say it can ONLY be We cannot thus say it can ONLY be what we think God iswhat we think God is

HumeHume

Argues if there is no necessary link Argues if there is no necessary link between cause and effect then the C.A. between cause and effect then the C.A. failsfails

If all we see are constant conjunctions If all we see are constant conjunctions then it is very hard to insist on a chain then it is very hard to insist on a chain of infinite regress of causesof infinite regress of causes

If there is no chain of infinite regress of If there is no chain of infinite regress of causes then the C.A. doesn’t get startedcauses then the C.A. doesn’t get started