Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
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Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
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Ecology
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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
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3
0
Kenadie
09/12/2025
Religious Studies
The Cosmological Argument
150
•
9 Dec 2025
•
Kenadie
@xdxkxdx
The cosmological argument is one of philosophy's most enduring attempts... Show more
Ever wondered why anything exists at all? The cosmological argument tackles this mind-bending question by suggesting that everything needs an explanation - and the best one is God.
This argument isn't new. Ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato first explored these ideas around 300-400 BC. However, it was Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) who really made it famous with his brilliant theological work.
Aquinas was convinced that you could find evidence for God's existence just by looking at the natural world around you. He called these clues the 'fingerprints of God' and developed his 'first three ways' to prove God exists through logic and observation.
Key Concept: Aquinas distinguished between potentiality (something that could happen or change) and actuality (when that change actually occurs). This distinction is crucial for understanding his arguments.
The First Way argues that everything moving must have been set in motion by something else. You can't have an endless chain of movers - there must be an unmoved mover at the start of it all, which Aquinas identifies as God.
Think of it like dominoes falling. Each domino needs the previous one to knock it over, but something had to tip the first domino. Aquinas wasn't just talking about the beginning of time - he meant that God constantly sustains all movement and change in the universe right now.
The Second Way focuses on cause and effect. Every effect needs a cause, and you can't go backwards through causes forever. There must be a first cause - an efficient cause that started everything but wasn't caused by anything else.
Remember: Aquinas built these arguments on a posteriori reasoning - evidence from observing the world around us, not just pure logic.
The Third Way introduces two crucial concepts: contingent beings (things that depend on something else to exist) and necessary beings (things that exist independently and don't need anything else).
Everything you see around you is contingent. You exist because your parents existed, trees need soil and water, planets need gravity. These things are temporally dependent - they rely on outside factors both to come into existence and to keep existing.
If everything in the universe is contingent, then something necessary must have brought them all into existence. This necessary being - independent, uncaused, and eternal - is what Aquinas calls God.
Here's Aquinas' example: wood has the potential to be hot, but it needs fire (something already actual) to make it happen. God is the ultimate actual being that makes everything else possible.
Study Tip: All three ways use inductive reasoning based on a posteriori premises - they start with observations about the world and work towards conclusions about God.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Kenadie
@xdxkxdx
The cosmological argument is one of philosophy's most enduring attempts to prove God exists by asking a simple question: why is there something rather than nothing? Thomas Aquinas, a brilliant medieval theologian, developed three powerful versions of this argument that... Show more
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
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Ever wondered why anything exists at all? The cosmological argument tackles this mind-bending question by suggesting that everything needs an explanation - and the best one is God.
This argument isn't new. Ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato first explored these ideas around 300-400 BC. However, it was Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) who really made it famous with his brilliant theological work.
Aquinas was convinced that you could find evidence for God's existence just by looking at the natural world around you. He called these clues the 'fingerprints of God' and developed his 'first three ways' to prove God exists through logic and observation.
Key Concept: Aquinas distinguished between potentiality (something that could happen or change) and actuality (when that change actually occurs). This distinction is crucial for understanding his arguments.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The First Way argues that everything moving must have been set in motion by something else. You can't have an endless chain of movers - there must be an unmoved mover at the start of it all, which Aquinas identifies as God.
Think of it like dominoes falling. Each domino needs the previous one to knock it over, but something had to tip the first domino. Aquinas wasn't just talking about the beginning of time - he meant that God constantly sustains all movement and change in the universe right now.
The Second Way focuses on cause and effect. Every effect needs a cause, and you can't go backwards through causes forever. There must be a first cause - an efficient cause that started everything but wasn't caused by anything else.
Remember: Aquinas built these arguments on a posteriori reasoning - evidence from observing the world around us, not just pure logic.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Third Way introduces two crucial concepts: contingent beings (things that depend on something else to exist) and necessary beings (things that exist independently and don't need anything else).
Everything you see around you is contingent. You exist because your parents existed, trees need soil and water, planets need gravity. These things are temporally dependent - they rely on outside factors both to come into existence and to keep existing.
If everything in the universe is contingent, then something necessary must have brought them all into existence. This necessary being - independent, uncaused, and eternal - is what Aquinas calls God.
Here's Aquinas' example: wood has the potential to be hot, but it needs fire (something already actual) to make it happen. God is the ultimate actual being that makes everything else possible.
Study Tip: All three ways use inductive reasoning based on a posteriori premises - they start with observations about the world and work towards conclusions about God.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the significance of religious language through verification, falsification, and eschatological verification. This study note delves into key philosophical arguments, including the teleological and ontological arguments, and the problem of evil, providing a comprehensive analysis for A-Level AQA Philosophy students.
Religious StudiesExplore Aristotle's Four Causes and the concept of the Prime Mover in this concise summary. Understand the material, formal, efficient, and final causes, along with critiques of Aristotelian philosophy. Ideal for A-Level Philosophy students studying the existence of God and cosmological arguments.
Religious StudiesExplore the key concepts of Direct Realism in epistemology, including perception, hallucinations, and the time-lag argument. This summary provides a clear analysis of how we perceive the world and the implications for knowledge and reality. Ideal for AQA Philosophy A Level students.
Religious StudiesExplore the concepts of immediate and mediate revelation in this A-level Philosophy and Ethics study resource. Delve into key arguments from scholars like Aquinas, Hume, and Calvin, and examine the relationship between natural and revealed theology. This comprehensive summary includes essential quotes and insights for mastering the topic. Ideal for students aiming for top grades.
Religious StudiesExplore the contrasting views on the origins of the universe in this analytical essay. Delve into the strengths and weaknesses of scientific materialism versus Christian perspectives, including literal and liberal interpretations. Key concepts include the Big Bang theory, creation stories, and the cosmological argument. This comprehensive examination is essential for understanding the debate surrounding religious and scientific explanations of the universe's origins.
Religious StudiesExplore the contrasting philosophies of Rationalism and Empiricism through the works of Descartes, Hume, Plato, and Aristotle. This summary delves into key concepts such as a priori and a posteriori knowledge, the nature of reality, and the significance of sensory experience in understanding the world. Ideal for OCR RS A-Level students seeking to grasp foundational philosophical ideas.
Religious StudiesApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology