Philosophy · Year 12 · Metaphysics of God · Summer Term

Cosmological Arguments for the Existence of God

Analyse a posteriori arguments that reason from the existence of the universe to the existence of a first cause or a necessary being, identified as God.

TL;DR:This hub provides resources to explore one of the most enduring arguments for God's existence. We will investigate why the very existence of the universe might point towards a creator or a necessary being.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA A-Level Philosophy: Section 4.1 - Metaphysics of God - Arguments for the existence of God: Cosmological arguments

About This Topic

This topic delves into the cosmological family of arguments for the existence of God, a cornerstone of the A-Level Philosophy of Religion curriculum. As a posteriori arguments, they begin with an empirical observation: the existence of the universe, or some feature of it such as motion, causation, or contingency. From this observation, they reason inductively towards the conclusion of a First Cause or a Necessary Being, which is then identified as God. This topic requires students to engage with foundational metaphysical concepts and trace their development from classical Greek thought (Plato and Aristotle) through to medieval scholasticism (Aquinas's Five Ways) and contemporary analytic philosophy (the Kalam argument popularised by William Lane Craig).

For the GB curriculum, it is crucial to position these arguments in contrast to a priori arguments like the ontological argument, and to equip students to analyse their logical structure and the soundness of their premises. A significant portion of study will involve evaluating powerful critiques, particularly from empiricist philosophers like David Hume, who questioned the leap from cause and effect within the universe to a cause of the universe itself, and Bertrand Russell, who famously argued the universe is a 'brute fact'. This topic develops critical thinking, analytical writing, and the ability to deconstruct and evaluate complex, abstract reasoning.

Key Questions

1. Explain the key premises of the Kalam cosmological argument.
2. Analyse the concept of a 'necessary being' as used in Aquinas' Third Way.
3. Evaluate the criticism that the cosmological argument commits the fallacy of composition.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the key premises and conclusions of Aquinas's First Three Ways.
• Analyse the structure of the Kalam cosmological argument.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of cosmological arguments, applying criticisms from Hume and Russell.
• Define and apply key concepts such as contingency, necessity, causation, and infinity.
• Compare and contrast the arguments from motion, causation, and contingency.

Key Vocabulary

A posteriori	An argument based on, or derived from, sense experience and empirical evidence.
Contingent	A being or thing that depends on something else for its existence and does not exist necessarily.
Necessary Being	A being whose existence is self-explanatory and who cannot not exist; it does not depend on any other being or thing.
Infinite Regress	An unending chain of causes or reasons with no beginning, which many philosophers argue is a logical impossibility.
First Cause	The initial cause that starts a chain of causation but is not itself caused by anything prior. Also referred to as an Unmoved Mover.
Fallacy of Composition	The logical error of assuming that something true of a part must also be true of the whole.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The argument proves the existence of the God of a specific religion, like the Christian God.

What to Teach Instead

The arguments, if successful, only conclude in the existence of a powerful, uncaused, necessary being. Further arguments would be required to establish specific divine attributes like omnibenevolence or to link this entity to a particular religious tradition.

Common Misconception

If everything has a cause, then what caused God?

What to Teach Instead

This misrepresents the premise. The Kalam argument, for example, states that 'everything that begins to exist has a cause'. Proponents argue that God is eternal and never began to exist, so the premise does not apply to God.

Common Misconception

The Big Bang theory disproves the cosmological argument.

What to Teach Instead

This is a point of debate. Many modern proponents, such as William Lane Craig, argue that the Big Bang theory, by suggesting the universe had a beginning, actually supports a key premise of the Kalam cosmological argument.

Active Learning Ideas

Jigsaw

Argument Jigsaw

In small groups, students are given the jumbled premises of Aquinas's First Three Ways and the Kalam argument on separate strips of paper. Their task is to reconstruct the arguments in the correct logical order and identify the conclusion.

25 min·Small Groups

Socratic Seminar

Critic's Corner Debate

Assign students or groups the roles of key thinkers (e.g., Aquinas, Craig, Hume, Russell). Stage a formal debate on a motion such as 'This house believes the universe requires a First Cause'.

40 min·Whole Class

Socratic Seminar

Science vs. Philosophy?

In pairs, students research how a specific scientific concept, like the Big Bang theory or quantum mechanics, interacts with a premise of a cosmological argument. They then present a short summary of whether modern science supports or refutes the argument.

35 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Debates in modern cosmology about the origins of the universe, such as the Big Bang theory and multiverse hypotheses.
• The use of causal reasoning in legal proceedings to establish responsibility and in scientific investigation to determine origins.
• Existential questions that individuals ask about purpose and origins, such as 'Why is there something rather than nothing?'.
• Foundations of scientific inquiry, which largely operate on the assumption that the universe is an ordered, causal system.
• Inter-faith dialogue, as versions of the cosmological argument are found in Christian, Islamic (Kalam), and Jewish philosophy.

Assessment Ideas

Peer Assessment

An A-Level style essay question, such as 'Critically evaluate the view that the cosmological argument proves God exists'.

Peer Assessment

Students work in pairs to create a diagram or flowchart that visually represents one of the cosmological arguments and its key objections.

Quick Check

Students use a 'confidence tracker' to rate their ability to explain each argument, its key terms, and its main criticisms before and after the topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a contingent being and a necessary being?

A contingent being is one that depends on something else for its existence and could, potentially, not have existed. A necessary being is one that does not depend on anything else and contains the reason for its own existence; its non-existence is impossible.

What is an 'infinite regress' and why is it considered a problem?

An infinite regress is an endless chain of causes, explanations, or justifications with no starting point. Philosophers like Aquinas argued that an actual infinite regress of causes is impossible because if there is no first cause, there can be no subsequent causes, and thus nothing would exist now.

How does David Hume criticise the cosmological argument?

Hume argues that we cannot apply our understanding of cause and effect from within the universe to the universe as a whole. He also suggests the 'fallacy of composition': just because every part of a machine has a cause, it does not mean the whole machine must have a cause. The universe, he suggests, might just be a 'brute fact'.