PHIL 347 MIDTERM EXAM READY - VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
Generic understanding of God: ANSWER is a unique, eternal, uncreated deity.
An amazing, superb transcendent being that the earth is causally dependent on
Agency
Theism: Belief in God
Natural Theology: ANSWER Philosophical justifications for faith in God
(generic theism)
Revealed Theology: ANSWER Belief in God according to Authority (religion-
specific)
Cosmological Argument: 1. There is a cause for everything that starts to exist.
2. The universe started to exist.
A) There isn't an infinite number of real objects
B) Inability to traverse infinity
C) Thermodynamics
D) Singularity of the Big Bang
3. Therefore, there is a cause for the cosmos.
A priori: The explanations are entirely conceptual in nature. Intuitive, true
regardless of evidence
A posteriori: REPLY relies on observable and empirical facts, following proof
Supplementary Cosmological Argument A Priori: Philoponus's Response
1. There cannot be an infinite number of actual objects
2. A) An infinite number of past events would precede the present if the cosmos
were everlasting.
2. B) However, a series that is infinite cannot be transversal.
, 2. C) Consequently, the universe cannot last forever.
Craig's Cosmological Argument Supplemental Argument A Posteriori
1. Thermodynamics
2. Singularity of the Big Bang
Thermodynamics: ANSWER 1. The amount of energy is constant and is
transformed into thermal energy.
2. The universe's total energy, or heat, is getting closer to cosmic equilibrium
3. We should have run out of energy a very long time ago if the universe has
always existed.
Big Bang Singularity: Hubble's explanation for the expanding universe
1. The cosmos would shrink to a single point if it were to move backwards.
2. An explosion is indicated by detectable background radiation.
Cosmological Argument Objections: ANSWER 1. Hume's empiricist critique
of the first premise
2. Krauss's challenge to premise one in quantum physics
3. "Actual infinities are absurd" is supported by Russell's set theory argument to
premise two.
4. The gap objection
Hume's Criticism of the Cosmological Argument: Response to Premise One
1. Everything is possible if it is not contradictory.
2. The emergence of something is not contradictory
3. It is therefore conceivable.
Anything that is capable of existing cannot have a cause.
Krauss's Criticism of the Cosmological Argument: A Response to the First
Premise
1. According to quantum physicists, quantum fluctuations are what cause
things.
2. People consider these to be as close to nothing as possible.
2A. Redefining nothing as these variations (ARE THEY NOT SOMETHING)
3. As a result, some things are caused by nothing.
In ANSWER to Krauss's objection to the cosmological argument, Craig said,
"Nothing --> Nothing --> universe negation."
1) A quantum vacuum is not nothing.
2) Observable cause and real cause are not the same.
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
Generic understanding of God: ANSWER is a unique, eternal, uncreated deity.
An amazing, superb transcendent being that the earth is causally dependent on
Agency
Theism: Belief in God
Natural Theology: ANSWER Philosophical justifications for faith in God
(generic theism)
Revealed Theology: ANSWER Belief in God according to Authority (religion-
specific)
Cosmological Argument: 1. There is a cause for everything that starts to exist.
2. The universe started to exist.
A) There isn't an infinite number of real objects
B) Inability to traverse infinity
C) Thermodynamics
D) Singularity of the Big Bang
3. Therefore, there is a cause for the cosmos.
A priori: The explanations are entirely conceptual in nature. Intuitive, true
regardless of evidence
A posteriori: REPLY relies on observable and empirical facts, following proof
Supplementary Cosmological Argument A Priori: Philoponus's Response
1. There cannot be an infinite number of actual objects
2. A) An infinite number of past events would precede the present if the cosmos
were everlasting.
2. B) However, a series that is infinite cannot be transversal.
, 2. C) Consequently, the universe cannot last forever.
Craig's Cosmological Argument Supplemental Argument A Posteriori
1. Thermodynamics
2. Singularity of the Big Bang
Thermodynamics: ANSWER 1. The amount of energy is constant and is
transformed into thermal energy.
2. The universe's total energy, or heat, is getting closer to cosmic equilibrium
3. We should have run out of energy a very long time ago if the universe has
always existed.
Big Bang Singularity: Hubble's explanation for the expanding universe
1. The cosmos would shrink to a single point if it were to move backwards.
2. An explosion is indicated by detectable background radiation.
Cosmological Argument Objections: ANSWER 1. Hume's empiricist critique
of the first premise
2. Krauss's challenge to premise one in quantum physics
3. "Actual infinities are absurd" is supported by Russell's set theory argument to
premise two.
4. The gap objection
Hume's Criticism of the Cosmological Argument: Response to Premise One
1. Everything is possible if it is not contradictory.
2. The emergence of something is not contradictory
3. It is therefore conceivable.
Anything that is capable of existing cannot have a cause.
Krauss's Criticism of the Cosmological Argument: A Response to the First
Premise
1. According to quantum physicists, quantum fluctuations are what cause
things.
2. People consider these to be as close to nothing as possible.
2A. Redefining nothing as these variations (ARE THEY NOT SOMETHING)
3. As a result, some things are caused by nothing.
In ANSWER to Krauss's objection to the cosmological argument, Craig said,
"Nothing --> Nothing --> universe negation."
1) A quantum vacuum is not nothing.
2) Observable cause and real cause are not the same.
