← Philosophy syllabus

TASPhilosophy

Life, the Universe and Everything

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Does the existence and origin of the universe require a first cause or necessary being?

The cosmological argument and competing accounts of the origin of the universe
The cosmological argument for the existence of God in TASC Unit 4.2, covering Aquinas' first cause and the contingency argument, the Big Bang as a rival account, and the main objections.
6 min answer →

Does the order and apparent fine-tuning of the universe point to a designer?

The teleological argument, the watchmaker analogy and fine-tuning
The design argument for God's existence in TASC Unit 4.2, covering Paley's watchmaker analogy, the fine-tuned universe and anthropic argument, and objections from Hume and evolution.
6 min answer →

Can the existence of a wholly good, all-powerful God be reconciled with the suffering in the world?

The problem of evil and responses to it
The problem of evil as a challenge to theism in TASC Unit 4.2, covering the logical and evidential versions, the free will defence, soul-making theodicy and the distinction between moral and natural evil.
6 min answer →