PHIL 3600 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Theism, Impermanence
Document Summary
Dharmasiri- examines proofs for the existences of god. Cosmological arguments: aquinas: start with the universe/cosmos and argue to god"s existence. (a posteriori argument, ie: the argument of first cause: the contingent argument that whatever happens was caused by someone else, which leads to a first cause. Buddhism: all is changing, everything is fluid, lack of essence, everlasting & oscillating theory of the universe, lack of beginning or ending- expansion and contraction, interdependence all things relying on other things. Major issues with western arguments for the existence of god, since buddhism believes that things have been forever flowing. Getting wrapped up in contingency (according to the buddhist) is like a man who is shot by an arrow and asks questions about it (like what is the arrow made of who shot the arrow? . Where was he standing? etc) rather than trying to focus on what the real issue is- getting the arrow out of the man"s chest.
