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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Define the Cosmological argument.
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The fact that there is a universe at all requires explanation, and that explanation is God
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Are the Cosmological arguments a priori or a posteriori? Explain.
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A posteriori.
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What are the two causal arguments that the Cosmological argument consists of?
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1) God must be the cause of my idea of God
2) God must be the cause of my existence from moment to moment |
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What are the five Classic Cosmological Arguments according to St. Thomas Aquinas?
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1) Argument from motion
2) Argument from efficient causation 3) Argument from contingency 4) Argument from degrees of perfection 5) Argument from natural order |
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Define the Argument from Motion
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Things are in motion, but their motion must be caused by other things. There cannot be an infinite regress of causes of motion, so there must be a Prime Mover – God.
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Define the Argument from Efficient Causation
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Everything is produced, and nothing can produce itself. There must be a first productive cause which it itself unproduced = God.
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Define the Argument from Contingency
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Unless there is a necessarily existing thing, no contingent thing would exist. That necessarily existing thing = God.
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Define the Argument from Degrees of Perfection
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Some things are better and truer than others. This would not be possible unless there was a perfect being. That being = God.
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Define the Argument from Natural Order
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The universe is orderly; that order is the result of intelligent direction. That is due to the intelligence of God.
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Define the idea of God argument. What does it prove?
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From the Principles of Sufficient Reason and Adequate Reality, together with my idea of God, the only source with enough reality to give me that idea is God himself.
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What does the denial of the idea of God show?
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The fact that you deny the idea of God shows that there is an idea you deny.
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What does our understanding of our imperfection show?
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If we understand that we are imperfect, we must have the concept of perfection.
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How do the three degrees of reality apply to the content of ideas?
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The lowest degrees of reality are properties, the middle degrees are finite substances, and the highest degrees are infinite substances.
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Explain the Cartesian Circle.
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Descartes uses the argument for God to justify reliance on “clear and distinct” ideas. This argument is circular in that it presupposes that he has a clear and distinct idea of God.
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Explain the Continuity of Consciousness Argument.
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Only God could be the cause of my continued existence.
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Is the intellect or understanding the source of error? Why?
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The intellect and the understanding merely allow people to perceive ideas – as long as judgment is suspended, no error is possible.
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Is the will the source of error? Why?
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The will is not the source of error; our freedom is unbounded and perfect.
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How can error be avoided?
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Error can be avoided by passing judgments only on clear and distinct ideas.
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What is the "Problem" of Evil?
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1) If God has perfect power, he can eliminate all evil.
2) If God has perfect goodness, he wants to eliminate all evil. 3) Therefore, since evil exists (imperfections), God is either not perfectly powerful or not perfectly good. |
