The cosmological argument in Catholic thought

Overview

Aquinas's first three Ways, contingent and necessary beings, the work where the Five Ways appear, the 1948 Copleston and Russell radio debate, 'Who caused God?', and the Big Bang objection.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   How does the cosmological argument reason from the universe to God, as Catholics use it?

   Model answer

   The cosmological argument says everything that exists has a cause, so the universe must have a first cause. Catholics identify that first cause as God.

2. 2

   What is Aquinas's First Way?

   Model answer

   The First Way argues from motion or change. Everything that changes is changed by something else, so there must be an unmoved mover, God.

3. 3

   What is Aquinas's Second Way?

   Model answer

   The Second Way argues from cause and effect. A chain of causes cannot go back for ever, so there must be a first, uncaused cause, God.

4. 4

   What is Aquinas's Third Way?

   Model answer

   The Third Way argues from contingency. Contingent things might not have existed, so there must be a necessary being whose existence depends on nothing else, God.

5. 5

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

   Model answer

   A contingent being depends on something else for its existence and might never have existed. A necessary being cannot fail to exist and depends on nothing.

6. 6

   Where did Aquinas set out his Five Ways?

   Model answer

   Aquinas set out the Five Ways in his Summa Theologiae in the thirteenth century. Aquinas was a Dominican friar and is honoured as a Doctor of the Church.

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