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WalesReligious StudiesQuick questions
Philosophy of Religion (Units 2 and 5)
Quick questions on The cosmological argument: Aquinas, Kalam, Hume and Russell - WJEC A-Level Religious Studies
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the Kalam argument?Show answer
The Kalam argument is distinctive in claiming the universe had a temporal beginning, a claim its defenders link to Big Bang cosmology, and in arguing that the cause must be a personal, uncaused agent who chose to bring time into being.
What is model paragraph?Show answer
The clash between the cosmological argument and Russell's brute-fact reply turns on what counts as an explanation. The argument assumes the "principle of sufficient reason", that for everything that exists there is a reason why it exists rather than not. If that principle holds, then the universe, as a collection of contingent things, cannot be its own reason, and a necessary being is required to terminate the explanation.
What is q1?Show answer
What does the First Way conclude God to be? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
State the three steps of the Kalam argument. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Evaluate the view that the cosmological argument proves the existence of God. [20 marks]
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