Aquinas & the Cosmological Arguments: Crash Course Philosophy

The video explores Thomas Aquinas's four cosmological arguments for God's existence: motion, causation, contingency, and degrees. It discusses the logic behind each argument and their reliance on avoiding infinite regress. The video also critically evaluates these arguments, highlighting objections such as their failure to establish a specific god, the possibility of polytheism, and the self-defeating nature of the arguments. The importance of engaging with philosophical arguments is emphasized.

What was Thomas Aquinas's main concern with Anselm's ontological argument?

• It was not widely accepted by philosophers.

• It was too complex to understand.

• It did not provide evidence for God's existence.

• It lacked logical consistency.

In Aquinas's argument from motion, what philosophical problem does he aim to avoid?

• The problem of infinite regress

• The problem of causation

• The problem of degrees

• The problem of contingency

According to Aquinas's argument from causation, why can't there be an infinite regress of causes?

• Because it would imply that nothing ever existed

• Because it would mean everything is self-caused

• Because it would contradict the laws of physics

• Because it would lead to logical contradictions

What is a contingent being, according to Aquinas?

• A being that exists outside of time

• A being that could have not existed

• A being that must exist

• A being that is self-caused

In the argument from degrees, what does Aquinas suggest is necessary to measure the value of things?

• A scientific method

• A perfect being

• A universal scale

• A logical framework

Which of the following is a major criticism of Aquinas's cosmological arguments?

• They do not establish the existence of a specific god.

• They rely too heavily on scientific evidence.

• They contradict the ontological argument.

• They are too simple to be taken seriously.

What is a key objection to Aquinas's insistence on a starting point for everything?

• It relies on outdated scientific theories.

• It dismisses the possibility of infinite regress.

• It contradicts the concept of free will.

• It assumes a linear progression of time.