#16 A List of Common Arguments for the Existence of God

I. Cosmological Arguments (From Causation / Contingency / Motion)

1. The Aristotelian Argument from Motion:

Syllogism

1. Whatever is moved is moved by another.

2. An infinite regress of movers is impossible.

3. Therefore, there must be a first unmoved mover.

4. This unmoved mover is God.

Form

• All moved things have a mover.

• Regress of movers cannot be infinite.

• Therefore, a first unmoved mover exists.

2. The Argument from Efficient Causation:

1. Every effect has a cause.

2. Nothing can be the cause of itself.

3. An infinite regress of causes is impossible.

4. Therefore, there must be a first uncaused cause.

5. This is God.

3. The Contingency Argument:

1. Contingent beings exist.

2. Contingent beings require a cause for their existence.

3. The totality of contingent beings cannot be explained by contingent causes alone.

4. Therefore, there must exist a necessary being.

5. This necessary being is God.

4. The Leibnizian Cosmological Argument:

1. Everything that exists has a sufficient reason for its existence.

2. The universe exists.

3. Therefore, the universe has a sufficient reason for its existence.

4. The sufficient reason must lie outside the universe.

5. Therefore, a necessary being exists (God).

5. The Kalam Cosmological Argument:

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.

2. The universe began to exist.

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.

4. The cause must be timeless, spaceless, immaterial, and powerful.

5. Therefore, God exists.

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II. Teleological (Design) Arguments

6. Aquinas’ Fifth Way (Governance):

1. Non-intelligent things act toward ends.

2. Whatever acts toward an end must be directed by intelligence.

3. Therefore, an intelligent being directs all natural things.

4. This being is God.

7. Classical Design Argument:

1. Objects exhibiting complex design imply a designer.

2. The universe exhibits complex design.

3. Therefore, the universe has a designer.

4. This designer is God.

8. Fine-Tuning Argument (Modern Teleology):

1. The constants of the universe are fine-tuned for life.

2. Fine-tuning is due to necessity, chance, or design.

3. It is not due to necessity or chance.

4. Therefore, it is due to design.

5. Therefore, God exists.

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III. Ontological Arguments (A Priori)

9. Anselm’s Ontological Argument:

1. God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived.

2. A being that exists in reality is greater than one that exists only in the mind.

3. If God exists only in the mind, a greater being could be conceived.

4. Therefore, God exists in reality.

10. Modal Ontological Argument:

1. It is possible that a maximally great being exists.

2. If it is possible, then it exists in some possible world.

3. If it exists in some possible world, it exists in every possible world.

4. If it exists in every possible world, it exists in the actual world.

5. Therefore, God exists.

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IV. Moral Arguments

11. Kantian Moral Argument:

1. Objective moral duties exist.

2. Objective moral duties require a moral lawgiver.

3. Therefore, a moral lawgiver exists.

4. This moral lawgiver is God.

12. Contemporary Moral Argument:

1. If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist.

2. Objective moral values do exist.

3. Therefore, God exists.

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V. Arguments from Mind / Reason / Consciousness

13. Argument from Reason:

1. If naturalism is true, human reasoning is the product of non-rational causes.

2. Non-rational causes cannot produce reliable rational inference.

3. Human reasoning is reliable.

4. Therefore, naturalism is false.

5. Therefore, God exists.

14. Argument from Consciousness:

1. Consciousness cannot be fully explained by material processes.

2. Human consciousness exists.

3. Therefore, a non-material explanation is required.

4. The best explanation is a divine mind.

5. Therefore, God exists.

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VI. Arguments from Degrees / Perfection

15. Argument from Degrees (Aquinas’ Fourth Way):

1. Things possess varying degrees of goodness, truth, and nobility.

2. Degrees imply a maximum.

3. The maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus.

4. Therefore, there exists a maximally perfect being.

5. This being is God.

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VII. Transcendental Arguments

16. Transcendental Argument (TAG):

1. Logic, morality, and intelligibility require absolute preconditions.

2. These preconditions cannot exist in a purely material universe.

3. Therefore, God is the necessary precondition for intelligibility.

4. Therefore, God exists.