In this essay, I will examine the debate between Russell and Copleston as they discuss the ‘Metaphysical Argument’ for the existence of God. Taking into consideration both sides of the argument, I will defend Copleston’s philosophical views as being right. I will first explain Copleston’s position through the Principle of Sufficient Reason and then provide the reasons why I agree with them.
In the debate, Copleston takes a stance in favor of the existence of a biblical God using the Cosmological Argument as his proof. Further more, within this philosophical theory, Copleston embraces the Principle of Sufficient Reason. It is with this that he believes that nothing alive today exists without sufficient reason, including the Universe itself. Everything is contingent
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A chair, for example, could not exist if a certain tree did not grow to provide the wood as a building material. Furthermore, the chair would not have been built if the carpenter did not assemble it. That same carpenter would not have been alive to create the chair if his parents did not birth him. It stands to reason that you are able to follow these chain events backwards from the creation of the chair to infinity. Copleston believes that if we reach to that infinity, there will be no rationalization for existence so it is necessary that there is something, which relies only on itself for existence, to have been the start of infinity. It is with this concept in mind, which brings me to why I think Copleston was more convincing than his debate opponent.
In my view, it is Russell who has given the evidence as to why I believe that
The debate was immense for several reasons, one of utmost importance is that it meets the assertion that Christianity can be reasoned logically and rationally. In this debate, Thomas Warren uses the same tools of logic and rationality employed by atheists and agnostics to respond to and defeat Anthony Flew
I have to admit that Zimmerman’s talk was hard at times for me to comprehend. I would love feedback if I understood his divine argument wrong, because I have had a few discussions about it with my peers and many took away different views from his final argument for a divine being, and in this paper I will explain how I understood his final argument. To come upon the divine being of God, he had to eliminate all the other contingent and necessary options believed by other philosophers and scientists through reasoning. He explained how it wasn’t possible for their to be no answer for the cosmos, nor were any of the contingent explanations of science, philosophy, or an infinite past made any sense.
As the argument is inductive, Richard Swinburne argues that it is rational to presume that God is omnibenevolent and wants to be actively present in people's lives. ‘An Omnipotent and perfectly good creator will seek to interact with his creatures and, in particular, with human persons capable of knowing him'. Richard Swinburne believes that if countless people have had a so called ‘religious experience' then this is enough evidence to believe them. (Principle of credulity) Swinburne proposes that religious encounters are judged through our senses and clarified through ‘religious insight Hence, in the event that somebody has had a religious experience, then it is reliable to trust that their telling the
The Teleological argument is also a cosmological argument it also begins with the existence of the cosmos. McCloskey rejects this argument along with the argument of design by rejecting the premise. However, “Tennant and Swinburne developed a version of this argument not as strict deductive proof but to show probability of theism” (Evans & Manis) The theory of evolution was offered as an explanation for the creation of design which was rejected because there many things before the theory of evolution. McCloskey believe there must be indisputable proof of actual evidence to prove evolution.
The existence of God has been presented by a multitude of philosophers. However, this has led to profound criticism and arguments of God’s inexistence. The strongest argument in contradiction to God’s existence is the Problem of Evil, presented by J.L Mackie. In this paper, I aim to describe the problem of evil, analyse the objection of the Paradox of Omnipotence and provide rebuttals to this objection. Thus, highlighting my support for Mackie’s Problem of evil.
Second, he proposes that for any p, if s is justified in believing p and s deduces some q
Contingency of Being Thomas Aquinas argued for the existence of God through his understanding of science along with the help of physical evidence, unchangeable facts and logic. I will discuss Aquinas’ Third proof and how he does prove that there is a God or Gods without the need for faith and revelation. In philosophy, we often distinguish things between being necessary being and contingent beings. Necessary beings are beings that have always existed and that could have never not existed.
To him, the inadequate treatment of the doctrine, especially on questions pertaining to God's interaction with the world, has detrimental consequences on the perception and understanding of God, creation–humans and non-humans, and what it means to exist in the world. 2.4.3.2 Overall Shape of Gunton's Doctrine of Creation In the context of these key influences, Gunton develops a doctrine of creation where he contends that God creates the world, and that his creation is an order of things which is intended to reach completion and perfection through the works of the Trinitarian God and human involvement for his own glory, in a projected time. In other words, Gunton's doctrine of creation is a project. The essential features
The question that is asked time and time again is whether or not god exists. It is evident that people hold different beliefs. It is evident that through some of the beliefs of J.L. Mackie that it could be argued that God does not actually exist. I find this argument to be more agreeable. In Mackie’s Evil and Omnipotence, he argues many points to support why it should be believed that god does not exist.
Lewis proved he was not one for hesitation when it came to voicing his theories about the universe. Carefully manufacturing his first theory with inductive reasoning, Lewis is sure to incorporate logical thinking in his argument for the Law of Human Nature by pointing out different pieces of evidence to larger, more universal statements. He makes general observations after comparisons with different universal laws as well as different civilizations throughout time. Following these remarks, he delves further into his theory that people don’t need to be taught the Law of Nature, but that almost everyone knows it by nature. In the second paragraph, Lewis further establishes logical persuasion by pointing out his “Power Behind” theory with deductive reasoning.
God defined into four categories: The first category refers to religious significance that is the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe in monotheistic religions, or it could be called as "miracle", which is today 's point of view in terms of Christianity and Islam. However, in the pantheistic religion, it represents only part of the natural and realistic for control, regards to force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being. The various gods in Greek mythology are predominantly shaped as male images. The third class that defines as an image of a supernatural being; an idol is broader and the religious significance is shallower.
The philosopher William Paley discussed the existence of God in the so called the teleological argument. The teleological argument is also known as Intelligent Design, or the argument from design. In order to explain the existence of God, William Paley gave us what is known as an argument by analogy. This form of inductive argument invites us to consider a particular state of affairs. For instance, let us set two situations; situation A for which we are already likely to have certain beliefs, and then likens it to situation B, with which we are less familiar.
Saint Thomas Aquinas once argued for the existence of God such that, “ there are five ways to prove that God exists.” One of these pathways derives from the nature of efficient causation. Causes in our reality come in a series. That being said, one cause has not been found to this day to be independent of itself. In layman’s terms, a rock can not roll without causation independent of itself.
The ontological argument, formulated by Anselm in his book proslogion, is written from a faith seeking understanding perspective; ontology meaning exploring the concept of all types of existence, typically Gods’. The argument is an a priori argument, this meaning that it is based on logic and is therefore deductive and an analytical argument. Therefore called the ontological argument. The ontological argument explores the existence of a necessary God. Furthermore, the argument is strong due to its key ideas, which are supported by intellectual philosophers such as Anselm, Descartes and two modern philosophers; Malcom and Plantinga.
St. Anselm and Descartes are known for presenting the first ontological arguments on the existence of God. The word ontological is a compound word derived from ‘ont’ which means exists or being and ‘–ology’ which means the study of. Even though Anselm and Descartes’ arguments differ slightly, they both stem from the same reasoning. Unlike the other two arguments on God’s existence (teleological and cosmological), the ontological argument does not seek to use any empirical evidence but rather concentrates on pure reason. The rationale behind this school of thought