Phil 347 FINAL Complete Exam Questions
With 100% Verified Answers Graded A+
Cosmological argument
Argues for the idea that the universe has a beginning. This argument follows the idea that all
empirical things are in a state of generation and decay and therefore the universe is material and was
created.
Plato's cosmological argument premises
1.) everything that begins to exists has a cause distinct from itself
2.) the universe has a beginning
3.) hence the universe has a cause distinct from itself
What is the supplementary argument for Plato's second premise?
Everything empirical is in a state of decay and therefore if the universe has always existed then we
would have already reached that point. Hence the universe couldn't have always existed, and
therefore was created.
Craig's cosmological argument premises
1.) everything that begins to exist has a cause
2.) the universe began to exist
3.) hence, the universe has a cause
What is the first category of supplementary arguments to Craig's first premise?
Empirical science (a posteriori)
What is the second category of supplementary arguments to Craig's first premise?
A priori
What is the first empirical science argument supplementary to Craig's first premise?
Thermodynamics
- There is an constant amount of energy in the universe and a distinction between usable and
unusable energy
- Usable energy is decreasing → leading to the heat death of the universe.
- If the universe had always existed then we would have run out of usable energy a long time ago
(infinite time ago).
- The universe (usable energy) cannot have always existed by the rules of thermodynamics → there
needs to be a finite start.
- Doesn't allow for a cycle and is irreversible.
What is the second empirical science argument supplementary to Craig's first premise?
Big bang cosmology
- The existence of background radiation → something that would cause an explosion.
- Galaxies are expanding → hubble telescope
- The Big bang suggests a finite beginning.
What is the first a priori supplementary argument to Craig's first premise?
There can be no actual infinities of real objects
- set theory: proposed that one of the sets is the infinite set; controversial
, - distinctions between actual infinity and potential infinity
- distinctions between real and ideal objects
What is the second a priori supplementary argument to Craig's first premise?
Even if we allow actual infinities of real things, you would have to traverse those events to get to the
present.
- Time only goes from the past to the future.
Time is a sequence, a unidirectional sequence.
Since there is no finite starting point, how are you ever to get to the present?
- Example: if there were an infinite number of steps to wreck the beach, would you ever reach the
beach? No.
- We are here in the present, therefore it is a beginning.
Aristotle's argument for motion
1.) everything in motion owes its motion to something else
2.) the universe is in motion
3.) hence the universe owes its motion to something else -> A transcendent being
4.) this thing is either itself moving, in motion, or it's not -> From law of excluded middle
5.) if it's moving, then it would need to be caused by something else -> From argument line 1.
6.) this regress cannot proceed infinitely for then there would be no ultimate explanation of motion.
7.) hence, there must be an unmoved mover (transcendent being)
Design argument
Claims that there is intelligence behind the design of certain creations, the most famous creation
discussed within this argument is that of the human eye.
The Epicurean objection to the design argument
1.) Divine intervention to explain what seems inexplicable, however, puts forth the idea that it is in
fact explicable if people would consider "the infinite immensity of boundless space in all directions".
2.) Discusses atoms, and their infinite power. It puts all the inexplicables of nature on the shoulders of
the atoms as they make up all the things we see.
3.) Those who commit to this argument disagree that there must be intelligence behind our nature,
and that the chance of the atoms is as likely as intelligence.
The Stoic objection to the Epicurean objection to the design argument
The objection is based on the premise that it is too unlikely to be believable that the universe, as it is,
could have become by mere chance or accident, by weighted atoms colliding and being attracted to
one another.
Richard Bentley's design argument
Puts forth the idea that human Bodies and Souls have a Maker behind it.
- Our entire body, beyond the eye, is well crafted to function and there are so many moving parts that
keep us alive and functioning that Bentley puts forth the idea that there is a "most Intelligent and
Beneficent Being" behind it.
What types of design arguments are there?
Deductive, analogy and Inference to best explanation
Naturalistic Evolution
With 100% Verified Answers Graded A+
Cosmological argument
Argues for the idea that the universe has a beginning. This argument follows the idea that all
empirical things are in a state of generation and decay and therefore the universe is material and was
created.
Plato's cosmological argument premises
1.) everything that begins to exists has a cause distinct from itself
2.) the universe has a beginning
3.) hence the universe has a cause distinct from itself
What is the supplementary argument for Plato's second premise?
Everything empirical is in a state of decay and therefore if the universe has always existed then we
would have already reached that point. Hence the universe couldn't have always existed, and
therefore was created.
Craig's cosmological argument premises
1.) everything that begins to exist has a cause
2.) the universe began to exist
3.) hence, the universe has a cause
What is the first category of supplementary arguments to Craig's first premise?
Empirical science (a posteriori)
What is the second category of supplementary arguments to Craig's first premise?
A priori
What is the first empirical science argument supplementary to Craig's first premise?
Thermodynamics
- There is an constant amount of energy in the universe and a distinction between usable and
unusable energy
- Usable energy is decreasing → leading to the heat death of the universe.
- If the universe had always existed then we would have run out of usable energy a long time ago
(infinite time ago).
- The universe (usable energy) cannot have always existed by the rules of thermodynamics → there
needs to be a finite start.
- Doesn't allow for a cycle and is irreversible.
What is the second empirical science argument supplementary to Craig's first premise?
Big bang cosmology
- The existence of background radiation → something that would cause an explosion.
- Galaxies are expanding → hubble telescope
- The Big bang suggests a finite beginning.
What is the first a priori supplementary argument to Craig's first premise?
There can be no actual infinities of real objects
- set theory: proposed that one of the sets is the infinite set; controversial
, - distinctions between actual infinity and potential infinity
- distinctions between real and ideal objects
What is the second a priori supplementary argument to Craig's first premise?
Even if we allow actual infinities of real things, you would have to traverse those events to get to the
present.
- Time only goes from the past to the future.
Time is a sequence, a unidirectional sequence.
Since there is no finite starting point, how are you ever to get to the present?
- Example: if there were an infinite number of steps to wreck the beach, would you ever reach the
beach? No.
- We are here in the present, therefore it is a beginning.
Aristotle's argument for motion
1.) everything in motion owes its motion to something else
2.) the universe is in motion
3.) hence the universe owes its motion to something else -> A transcendent being
4.) this thing is either itself moving, in motion, or it's not -> From law of excluded middle
5.) if it's moving, then it would need to be caused by something else -> From argument line 1.
6.) this regress cannot proceed infinitely for then there would be no ultimate explanation of motion.
7.) hence, there must be an unmoved mover (transcendent being)
Design argument
Claims that there is intelligence behind the design of certain creations, the most famous creation
discussed within this argument is that of the human eye.
The Epicurean objection to the design argument
1.) Divine intervention to explain what seems inexplicable, however, puts forth the idea that it is in
fact explicable if people would consider "the infinite immensity of boundless space in all directions".
2.) Discusses atoms, and their infinite power. It puts all the inexplicables of nature on the shoulders of
the atoms as they make up all the things we see.
3.) Those who commit to this argument disagree that there must be intelligence behind our nature,
and that the chance of the atoms is as likely as intelligence.
The Stoic objection to the Epicurean objection to the design argument
The objection is based on the premise that it is too unlikely to be believable that the universe, as it is,
could have become by mere chance or accident, by weighted atoms colliding and being attracted to
one another.
Richard Bentley's design argument
Puts forth the idea that human Bodies and Souls have a Maker behind it.
- Our entire body, beyond the eye, is well crafted to function and there are so many moving parts that
keep us alive and functioning that Bentley puts forth the idea that there is a "most Intelligent and
Beneficent Being" behind it.
What types of design arguments are there?
Deductive, analogy and Inference to best explanation
Naturalistic Evolution
