NAME: Franco Regino B.

Dizon SECTION: N14

MODULE 2, LESSON 2: COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

MODE OF INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY: ASYNCHRONOUS

REFERENCES: Brian Garrett, What is this thing called Metaphysics, Chapter 1;
Five Ways of St. Thomas Aquinas:
http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/aquinasfiveways_argumentanalysis.htm

MATERIALS: YouTube video, recorded lecture; reference book

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to have:
1. examined the COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT;
2. designed an example that illustrates at least one cosmological arguments;
3. composed short essay that supports or criticizes cosmological argument.

I. LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS:

Watch this video from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCVTSQw7WU

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video focuses on the how the universe came to be. Its concepts are more on
scientifical explanation on how the world was created.

In your opinion, does the beginning of cosmos/world presuppose a Creator? Why?

I believe that the beginning of cosmos/world presuppose a creator because I think everything happens
for a reason. The beginning of something should always have a reason or creator. It is hard for me to
imagine on how things happen “naturally”.

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II. PHILOSOPHY TIME
A. The Main Thesis of COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

 RESEARCH ON and Define the following terms:

o A POSTERIORI KNOWLEDGE: acquired through observation and experiences

o UNCAUSED CAUSE: ultimate being that caused everything
o UNMOVED MOVER: an object cannot move without a mover who is already moving
o NECESSARY BEING: cannot not exist
o CONTINGENT BEING: has a possibility of existing or not

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS argues that we can demonstrate the existence

of God through a posteriori knowledge. He argues that there are five
ways to do this demonstration: (1) Argument from Motion; (2)
Argument from Efficient Cause; (3) Argument from Necessity and
Possibility; (4) Argument from Gradation of Being; (5) Argument from
Design.

The first four ways are generally classified under the cosmological
approach while the 5th way is called a teleological approach.

Click the link and study the Five Ways  http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web

%20publishing/aquinasfiveways_argumentanalysis.htm

Complete the Following Table:

The Five Ways of Aquinas Main Argument Image of God

1. Argument from Motion Moving objects cannot move themselves. They
must be moved by something which is already Unmoved
actually moving. Mover
All things must have a cause and reason why did Uncaused
2. Argument from causality it occur or exists. caused

3. Argument from necessity and There is reason for something to exist necessary Necessary being
contingency which is the higher being and being who may or
may not exist

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4. Argument from gradation of A perfect being cannot be the ultimate being Perfect being
being unless there are those who are less perfect or
lower beings.

5.Argument from intelligent Complex being such as human beings are Designer
design designed to have a purpose or function

MEMORIZE THIS:
“EX NIHILO, NIHILO FIT”— FROM NOTHING, NOTHING COMES.

II. Engaging The Cosmological Argument

 Let’s go to the text, What is this thing called Metaphysics, p. 5-8.

Frederick Copleston’s argument reconstructed:

(1) Each member of the universe is a contingent being.

(2) So, the universe is contingent (from (1)).
(3) If contingent, it must have a cause; so
(4) The universe has a cause (from (2) and (3)).
(5) The cause of the universe must lie outside the universe.
so (6) There is a cause of the universe, lying outside the universe.
(7) The cause is a necessary being (from (6)).

 From the text, choose and discuss one argument that challenges Copleston’s argument. Do you
agree or disagree with the objection and why?

Each member of the universe is a contingent being. I agree with this argument
because at some point in time, there is an event wherein we exist and not exist.
Even from both the big bang theory or cosmological theory, each theory has started
from the beginning and will have an end. We cannot stay here forever because we
exist inside the universe and the cause of this universe exists outside.

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III. WRAP UP!
TOTAL SCORE: 15PTS. YOUR SCORE: _____________________

A. IDENTIFY the following terms: (5PTS)

Necessary being 1.it is a kind of being that exists at all time and all possible worlds.
Contingent being 2. It is a kind of being that is possible to exist and not to exist.
Uncause caused 3. It is the image of God as that which is the cause of succeeding efficient
causes.
Cosmological Argument 4. It is an argument that uses a posterioi knowledge to demonstrate God’s
existence.
Necessity and contingency 5. Using Aquinas’ Five Ways, to which type of argument does Copleston’s
demonstration belong to?

B. From the Five Ways of Aquinas, choose one to illustrate through a drawing. Provide a short
explanation to your illustration. (10pts)
RUBRICS:
1. The illustration perfectly shows the argument: 4pts
2. The explanation provides important points of the argument: 3pts
3. The illustration demonstrates effort and aesthetic: 3pts.

Argument from causality

The universe that we live in today is like a painting. It started from nothing then into something.
The universe contains different beings. For it to become a masterpiece, it needs someone to
make the painting itself. It needs someone who is the cause of the painting.
TEACHER’S COMMENT/S:

END OF MODULE 1, LESSON 2.

CONGRATULATIONS!