Argument and Logic Checkpoint

Steph Stokes

PHI105

Argument and Logic Checkpoint

5/3/2011

In “Augustine on God and Time”, Augustine answers the question of why God created our world when he did. He answers by defining time as a measurement that man created. Time is in our minds, in our memories, in our sights, and in our expectations. Without the human race using and defining time, the idea would not technically exist. He concluded that God is beyond time. To get to this logical conclusion, or the answer to this question, Augustine used good reasoning.

Augustine begins be addressing that the question itself is based on the false assumption that God’s actions exist within time. This argument is supportive due to universally Christian belief that God created all. Augustine also brought the topic of time existence to light. He stated that only the present exists at the time and for how much the past is already gone and the future has yet to happen, it was concluded that they both exist in our minds. We all have memories of past experiences and anticipate what will happen the next day, or in the future. With these ideas being active in our minds and existent in our world, and our existence is by God, Augustine could argue that God existed before our thinking, thus is existent beyond time. Each of these arguments supports Augustine’s conclusion, and just makes his answer stronger and more agreeable. However, weaknesses can be found in all arguments if an individual looks for them.

St. Augustine’s arguments support his answer and are strengths in his reasoning. All of his arguments are associated with nonphysical, mental concepts. The only physical element is the human being, but time can also be seen physically also. The sun rises and sets every day. We wake up in the morning and sleep at night. Each day that comes and goes brings the aging of the body. These are all ways we can see time. We have so many hours of daylight to see things outside and get things done. There...