PHIL 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Kalam Cosmological Argument, William Lane Craig, Reductio Ad Absurdum

• School: York University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 1000
• Professor: Alex Manafu

Document Summary

The kalam cosmological argument (how the universe came into existence = god) Rooted in the ilm al-kalam heritage in medieval islamic ac scholasticism. Contemporary proponent: william lane craig (christian apologist) P1: whatever begins to exist has a cause. C: therefore, the universe has a cause. Transcending the entire universe there exists a cause which brought the universe into being ex nihilo -craig (etc) The cause of the universe = god (separate argument) Since the cause of the universe cannot be within the universe, its cause must be. Transcendent: beyond the space-time universe (spaceless, timeless) Immaterial: (for anything material would need a cause -> infinite regress) Uncaused (otherwise there would be an infinite regress) Enormously powerful: (otherwise it could not create a universe) Agency: (must be capable of intentional action; the cause can be either natural or personal; but it"s not natural; therefore its personal = supernatural agent) Namely, if the premises are true, the conclusion.