A/S Essay Revision

Cosmological Argument  

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1. “How persuasive is the cosmological argument for God’s existence?”

This question asks for more than the strengths and weaknesses of the cosmological argument.  In your answer you must make an assessment on whether or not the CA does prove God’s existence. A way to look at this could be to focus on the key word here – persuasive.  Could the CA persuade a non-theist to accept that God does exist? If your answer to that is yes you need to show why and how.  Likewise, if you think no, prove it in your essay.  Make sure you show understanding of both sides of the argument while proving your case.

Intro

Answer the question! Is the C.A. persuasive or not – does it prove God’s existence or not?  You need to show that you know there are two sides to this argument but you are going to prove that one is more correct than the other – DO NOT sit on the fence here! J Remember to use the key words of the question in your opening paragraph.

Body

You need to show a continual line of reasoning here.  Don’t just list the different forms of the CA. Instead, use every point you make to show that the CA is or isn’t persuasive in proving God’s existence. You should include the following:

• The fact that the argument begins with the undeniable fact of the earth’s existence – this is its greatest strength.  It also makes this an a posteriori argument. You can look at the fact that the existence of the world often leads to the question, “how did we get here?” Romans 1:20 may be relevant.
• Lead into how people have tried to answer this. Can briefly mention Plato but main focus here is on Aquinas. Key terms or ideas to mention include Summa Theologica, Five Ways and his own Christianity.
• Move into a description of each of the three ways Aquinas tried to demonstrate God’s existence. However, if you leave it here you have not addressed the question.  You must show how each one attempts to show God’s existence.  You must ANALYSE them.  Are they persuasive or not? Why? How?  You can analyse each one individually or together, after you have described each ‘Way’.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the three ways? Overall, what conclusion do you make about them –do they show God’s existence?
• Move into the Kalam Cosmological Argument – who formed it? What is the modern version of it (William Lane Craig)? How is its focus different to Aquinas? Analyse – what are its strengths and weaknesses and, overall, is it persuasive?
• Principle of Sufficient Reason – what is it? Who formed it? Strengths and weaknesses? Persuasive or not? Analyse and link back to the question.
• Big Bang theory – how does it prove God’s existence? How can it be used against the CA? What do you think – does it support or reject the CA’s attempts to persuade people to believe in God?
• Give the other side of the argument – David Hume (Mr Cause and Effect).  What did he say about the CA? Was he right? Why/why not? How does this link to the question – does it show that the CA is persuasive or not?  Ask the same questions of Kant.
• Russell and Copleston – what were they on about? What are their famous quotes? Who was right and why? How do their arguments link to the question?

Conclusion