§-Section

Life, the Universe and Everything

3 dot points, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers 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 read →

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 read →

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 read →