PHIL 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument, Theism

• School: Cornell University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 1100
• Professor: Karen Bennett

Document Summary

In opening, looks at traditional argument for god and dispels them. 3 traditional arguments for the existence of god. The ontological argument: by reflecting on what god is supposed to be like, you can tell that he exists. If you know what god is supposed to be like, supposed to be perfect. Existing things are better than non-existing things; therefore god must exist. The cosmological argument: the origins of the universe. It must have been created by god; god must have been responsible for the existence of the universe. The teleological argument: the order and precision of the universe seems to defy chance; therefore it must be god. The only way the universe could be so well ordered is if god made it. Aquinas"s version of the cosmological argument (the 2nd way) Supported by the fact that if something caused itself it would have to be before itself. The conclusion does not follow from premise 3.