PHILOS 2XX3 Lecture 3: 2XX3 Lecture 3

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHILOS 2XX3
• Professor: Brigitte Sassen

Document Summary

So far clarke has prepared the audience/reader for these reflections: set aside prejudices. Cla(cid:396)ke"s o(cid:449)(cid:374) assu(cid:373)ptio(cid:374): e(cid:448)e(cid:396)(cid:455)o(cid:374)e ag(cid:396)ees (cid:894)e(cid:448)e(cid:374) if the(cid:455) do(cid:374)"t ad(cid:373)it to doi(cid:374)g so(cid:895) that the (cid:449)o(cid:396)ld (cid:449)ould (cid:271)e a (cid:271)ette(cid:396) pla(cid:272)e if the(cid:396)e (cid:449)as a god tha(cid:374) if the(cid:396)e (cid:449)as(cid:374)"t. Fundamental truth i (cid:862) o(cid:373)ethi(cid:374)g has e(cid:454)isted f(cid:396)o(cid:373) all ete(cid:396)(cid:374)it(cid:455)(cid:863) (cid:894)p. (cid:1012)(cid:895) Necessary because that is the only way in which we can explain why there is something now. Something cannot be caused by nothing; there must be something equal or better to the something that exists. We are looking for the causes of what is now. Notice that we are getting at least two concepts: Something (not yet clear what) that has always existed, cause, finite things. Recall thesis: something has existed from all eternity. Why does he believe this is so difficult to understand? (p. 8) Two types of explanations: appeal to the fi(cid:374)ite, appeal to the i(cid:374)fi(cid:374)ite (cid:894)(cid:862)t(cid:449)o sides(cid:863) p. (cid:1013)(cid:895)