NAME: __________________________________ SECTION: ___________

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

o UNCAUSED CAUSE: ______________________________
o UNMOVED MOVER: _____________________________
o NECESSARY BEING: ______________________________
o CONTINGENT BEING: ____________________________

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

2.

2
3.

4.

5.

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?

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

A. IDENTIFY the following terms: (5PTS)

_____________________1.it is a kind of being that exists at all time and all possible worlds.
____________________ 2. It is a kind of being that is possible to exist and not to exist.
_____________________3. It is the image of God as that which is the cause of succeeding efficient
causes.
_____________________4. It is an argument that uses a posterioi knowledge to demonstrate God’s
existence.
_____________________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.

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TEACHER’S COMMENT/S:

END OF MODULE 1, LESSON 2.

CONGRATULATIONS!