PHIL 100W FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
one-step argument - Answers - premise(s) and conclusion
premises - Answers - statements the writer takes for granted/assumes, support
conclusion
conclusion - Answers - statement writer wants to justify
multi-step arguments - Answers - two or more one-step regiments, break down into
component parts and evaluate
3 commandments for evaluating arguments - Answers - 1. to evaluate multistep
argument, break down into component parts
2. when evaluating one step argument ask if premise is true and if it is, does it imply the
conclusion is likely to be true as well?
3. if evaluating an argument and you decide it is not successful in justifying conclusion,
ask it can be fixed and what we can learn from it?
Conception of God - Answers - 1. created the universe
2. all powerful (omnipotent)
3. all knowing (omniscient)
4. morally perfect (omnibenevolent)
William Lane Craig - Answers - Cosmological Argument
Cosmological Argument - Answers - a) Whatever begins to exist has a cause
b) the universe begins to exist
c) universe has a cause
d) cause must be God because the cause must be uncaused, transcend space and
time, unchanging, non physical, a person
argument from physics - Answers - appeals to authority of physicists who generally
agree universe began with Big Bang about 14 billion years ago
argument from mathematics - Answers - infinite processes can never be completed
if the universe had a beginning, the history of the universe up until now would be an
infinite process that has completed
implications of cosmological argument - Answers - does nothing to show the cause of
universe must be one God but has maybe shown universe has a cause
evidential reasons for belief - Answers - have evidence to believe
, pragmatic reasons for belief - Answers - belief is advantageous but non evidential
evidential argument for theism - Answers - give evidence for god's existence
pragmatic argument for theism - Answers - may be benefits to being a theist and these
possible benefits justify theism
First Cause Argument - Answers - Also called the cosmological argument; the argument
that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen, otherwise
there would be nothing now.
Questions about First Cause Argument - Answers - Why can't the universe extend
backwards infinitely?
why must there be just one first cause?
even if there is a first cause why must it be a divine act of creation?
even if universe has a creator why must we assume it still exists and is OOO
Leibniz's Cosmological Argument - Answers - 1. every contingent fact has an
explanation
2. there is a contingent fact that includes all other contingent facts
3. so there is an explanation of that fact
4. this explanation has to involve a necessary being
5. that being is god
Principle of Sufficient Reason - Answers - The principle that everything must have a
reason to explain it
why does God exist according to Leibniz - Answers - god is a necessary being rather
than a contingent being
contingent being - Answers - something that could have not existed
objections to Leibniz - Answers - not clear the principle of sufficient reason is true, not
clear universe explanation must involve OOO god that still exists
Design argument (teleological Argument) - Answers - The argument that God designed
(made) the Universe because everything is so intricately made in its detail that it could
not have happened by chance.
abductive
hume's criticism of teleological argument - Answers - does not establish monotheistic
western theism, Darwin's theory makes more sense
one-step argument - Answers - premise(s) and conclusion
premises - Answers - statements the writer takes for granted/assumes, support
conclusion
conclusion - Answers - statement writer wants to justify
multi-step arguments - Answers - two or more one-step regiments, break down into
component parts and evaluate
3 commandments for evaluating arguments - Answers - 1. to evaluate multistep
argument, break down into component parts
2. when evaluating one step argument ask if premise is true and if it is, does it imply the
conclusion is likely to be true as well?
3. if evaluating an argument and you decide it is not successful in justifying conclusion,
ask it can be fixed and what we can learn from it?
Conception of God - Answers - 1. created the universe
2. all powerful (omnipotent)
3. all knowing (omniscient)
4. morally perfect (omnibenevolent)
William Lane Craig - Answers - Cosmological Argument
Cosmological Argument - Answers - a) Whatever begins to exist has a cause
b) the universe begins to exist
c) universe has a cause
d) cause must be God because the cause must be uncaused, transcend space and
time, unchanging, non physical, a person
argument from physics - Answers - appeals to authority of physicists who generally
agree universe began with Big Bang about 14 billion years ago
argument from mathematics - Answers - infinite processes can never be completed
if the universe had a beginning, the history of the universe up until now would be an
infinite process that has completed
implications of cosmological argument - Answers - does nothing to show the cause of
universe must be one God but has maybe shown universe has a cause
evidential reasons for belief - Answers - have evidence to believe
, pragmatic reasons for belief - Answers - belief is advantageous but non evidential
evidential argument for theism - Answers - give evidence for god's existence
pragmatic argument for theism - Answers - may be benefits to being a theist and these
possible benefits justify theism
First Cause Argument - Answers - Also called the cosmological argument; the argument
that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen, otherwise
there would be nothing now.
Questions about First Cause Argument - Answers - Why can't the universe extend
backwards infinitely?
why must there be just one first cause?
even if there is a first cause why must it be a divine act of creation?
even if universe has a creator why must we assume it still exists and is OOO
Leibniz's Cosmological Argument - Answers - 1. every contingent fact has an
explanation
2. there is a contingent fact that includes all other contingent facts
3. so there is an explanation of that fact
4. this explanation has to involve a necessary being
5. that being is god
Principle of Sufficient Reason - Answers - The principle that everything must have a
reason to explain it
why does God exist according to Leibniz - Answers - god is a necessary being rather
than a contingent being
contingent being - Answers - something that could have not existed
objections to Leibniz - Answers - not clear the principle of sufficient reason is true, not
clear universe explanation must involve OOO god that still exists
Design argument (teleological Argument) - Answers - The argument that God designed
(made) the Universe because everything is so intricately made in its detail that it could
not have happened by chance.
abductive
hume's criticism of teleological argument - Answers - does not establish monotheistic
western theism, Darwin's theory makes more sense
