T 2/17 Introduction 255-258; Daniel 259-273

1. Why are the first cause and design arguments a posteriori arguments? Which features of the universe do they each start from?

2. What is the difference between the two versions of the first cause argument, and the difference between this argument and the argument from contingency?

3. Why is the ontological argument an a priori argument? Does Daniel adequately defend the ontological argument?

Nagel 274-283; Ellis 295-301

1. What is Nagel’s criticism of the cosmological (i.e., first cause) argument? Does it cover all the versions (including the argument from contingency) that were discussed by Daniel?

2. How does Nagel attack the analogy found in the design argument?

3. According to Ellis, what sort of illegitimate logical jump does the atheist make?