Is the kalam cosmological argument a sound proof for god. Jan 28, 20 so lets examine the kalam cosmological argument and deal with its problems. Please show humility as this is a genuine question so no trolling. Introduction to the kalam cosmological argument this is a particular form of the cosmological argument developed in a modern form primarily by william lane craig. William lane craig perhaps, the most well known proponent of the kalam cosmological argument gives a presentation on the philosophical the impossibility of an actual infinite number of things. Likewise, in the cosmological argument, the clause begins to exist should not mean the same thing when applied to the universe that it means when applied to individual things within the universe.
Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of theism oxford university press, oxford, 1982 is super. Because of its historic roots in medieval islamic theology, i christened the argument the kalam cosmological argument kalam is the arabic word for medieval theology. What follows is a short presentation of the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god. I the other philosophical argument o ered in defense of premise 2 is that there cannot be an actual. The cosmological argument is probably the most popular of the theological existence proofs. What we call today the kalam cosmological argument, was first made by aristotle and then by islamic scholars in the 9th century. The cosmological argument is less a particular argument than an argument type. But this is irrelevant, because p1 of the kalam argument refers to efficient causes, not material causes. The cosmological argument attempted to prove that, regardless of whether or not the universe has a finite past, it requires a cause that is outside of the universe. Therefore, the universe has a cause for its existence. Craig formulates the kalam cosmological argument along these lines. Refutation of the kalam cosmological argument and others. Metcalfe abstract william lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam cosmological argument.
Explaining the kalam cosmological argument, craig writes. Mackie advances do serve to refute the kalam cosmological argument. Refuting objections to the kalam cosmological argument for gods existence. Kalam cosmological arguments by mohammed hijab goodreads. This is not supposed to represent an endorsement of the argument, but merely serves as an introduction to it. In the kalam cosmological argument for god, mark nowacki analyzes and provides a novel defense of the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god kca. The original kalam cosmological argument was developed by islamic scholars in medieval times based on the aristotelian prime mover idea. Heres william lane craig himself, in formulating the kalam cosmological argument, i intend to speak of what aristotle called efficient causesmy claim is that whatever begins to exist have an efficient cause come let us reason, p. How to debunk the kalam cosmological argument debating religion. William lane craigs kalam cosmological argument kca requires that an a theory of time is correct. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument. The argument, as craig presents it, rests on three premises which are all striking in their simplicity. The success of the kalam cosmological argument in establishing an existence in god the kalam cosmological argument is an argument from the existence of the world or universe to the existence of god, i think this is effective because the existence of the universe, such arguments claim, stands in need of explanation, the only adequate explanation, the arguments suggest, is. When i say cite sources i am looking for more than wikipedia.
The first part aims to establish that there is a cause of the universe. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory of time curtis j. This book assesses some of the main forms of the kalam. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. The goal is not to offer a thorough defense or refutation of the argument in the original post, but to unpack it togeth. It is my opinion that the kalam cosmological argument kca is one of the best arguments that one can use as evidence of gods existence. Since time and space are a part of the universe itself, calling the big bang an event would place it in a. The kalam cosmological argument sometimes capitalized as kalam cosmological argument. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory.
In the first part, i outline the kalam argument, and introduce the objections which mackie makes to it. William lane craig has refined it to make it the cornerstone of his argument for the existence of the god of christianity. Leibniz continues by quoting horace about joining to a human head a. The kalam argument popular writings reasonable faith.
I the other philosophical argument o ered in defense of premise 2 is that there cannot be an actual in nite in the world, merely a potential in nite. If you would like to participate, you can edit this article and visit the project page this article has not yet received a rating on the projects quality scale this article has not yet received a rating on the projects importance scale. Essay the kalam cosmological argument by theodore schick. Proponents of the kalam argument go on to argue that god is the. This paper is concerned with the kalam cosmological argument, which aims to demonstrate that the universe was created ex nihilo by a personal creator.
Reading religion the best possible collection on the kalam. On the kalam cosmological argument common sense atheism. The kalam cosmological argument is one of the variants of the argument which has been especially useful in defending the philosophical position of theistic worldviews. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past.
Oct 20, 2017 from our series entitled does god exist. Sep 09, 2012 what we call today the kalam cosmological argument, was first made by aristotle and then by islamic scholars in the 9th century. The kalam cosmological argument for god studies in. The most simple criticism of the kalam cosmological argument by jonathan ms pearce may 7, 2014 64 comments listening to the reasonable doubts criticism of the dreadful sounding film gods not dead, justin schieber referred to a point made by wes morriston. Mar 12, 2020 there are two aspects of the kalam argument that especially make it different from st. Refutation of the kalam cosmological argument and others i know this has been done approximately a million times already, but i wanted to do it myself, just as an intellectual exercise. Refuting objections to the kalam cosmological argument. So lets examine the kalam cosmological argument and deal with its problems. Over the years many different versions of it have been presented. The fact that the universe exists means that somebody must have created it in the first place, and this somebody is most likely god. In the absence of good answers to these questions, we must dismiss the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of a god. It is an issue ultimately of a selfrefuting position. The kalam cosmological argument for god studies in analytic philosophy nowacki, mark r.
The word kalam is arabic for speaking but more generally the word can be interpreted as theological philosophy. The fact that the universe exists means that somebody must have created it in the first place, and this somebody is. Building on the work of william lane craig, nowacki locates the proper. The goal is not to offer a thorough defense or refutation of the argument in the original post, but to unpack it together, as a community, in the comment boxes. Does quantum physics refute the kalam argument for god. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p. If you would like to participate, you can edit this article and visit the project page.
The most simple criticism of the kalam cosmological argument. Argument more recently advocated by william lane craig. Interpreting gods action in the world, edited by j. What is the difference between the kalam cosmological.
Evaluating the kalam cosmological argument bitchspot. The kalam cosmological argument as oft stated by theists, most notably william lane craig, is as follows. A couple weeks ago, we kicked off a new series of posts where well introduce one of todays most popular arguments for or against god, and then invite openended discussion. On guard by william lane craig 1 whatever begins to exist has a cause. The kalam cosmological argument the righter report. Introduction to the kalam cosmological argument calum miller. The kalam cosmological argument is a product of the tradition of islamic science known as ilm alkalam, which was established in order to defend the islamic faith against academic criticism. Reviews the two volumes of copans the kalam cosmological argument, without a doubt, constitute an excellent collection of essays that for years to come will be the place to start for those interested in a profound analysis of the problems and merits of the kalam cosmological argument. How to debunk the kalam cosmological argument debating. Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and theology. The kalam cosmological argument, with roots in early christian and islamic thinking, has been revived in recent years, most notably by william lane craig. The kalam cosmological argument by theodore schick, he states that there is scientific proof for explaining the creation of the universe, but this proof also provides evidence of what others believe shows the existence of god, who to them, is the one who created the big bang that then created the universe. The kalam cosmological argument for god studies in analytic.
The argument, in its simplest form, is that i whatever begins to. Anguspure, i think we are closing in on the underlying issue. A bayesian formulation of the kalam cosmological argument. May 23, 2015 the original kalam cosmological argument was developed by islamic scholars in medieval times based on the aristotelian prime mover idea. Pdf the kalam cosmological argument and the problem of. Big bang cosmology not especially congenial to faith. The sources used in this presentation are documented according to current modern language association standards. We present a formal analysis of the cosmological argument in its two main forms.
An outspoken defender of the argument is william lane craig, who first defended it in his book the kalam cosmological. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. Smiths most recent criticism of the kalam cosmological argument is also a denial of. The kalam cosmological argument is an exercise in positive deist apology which. Kalam cosmological argument is part of wikiproject atheism, which aims to organize, expand, clean up and guide wikipedia articles relating to atheism. On the kalam cosmological argument an earlier draft of the paper in facets of faith and science.
The kalam cosmological argument essay 1100 words cram. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the kalam cosmological argument. May 07, 2014 the most simple criticism of the kalam cosmological argument by jonathan ms pearce may 7, 2014 64 comments listening to the reasonable doubts criticism of the dreadful sounding film gods not dead, justin schieber referred to a point made by wes morriston. So what i want to do here is spend a few moments attacking. Craigs argument and then proceed with the change argument. What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the kalam. Immediately, we realize that the apologist has inserted wiggle words into the claim. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the b. Why the big bang singularity does not help the kalam. Cosmological argument stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Smiths most recent criticism of the kalam cosmological argument is also a denial of the. It uses a general pattern of argumentation logos that makes an inference from particular alleged facts about the universe cosmos to the existence of a unique being, generally identified with or referred to as god. If the argument stopped there, well alls well that ends well. Oppys attempt to defend the possibility of the existence of an actual infinite is vitiated by his conflation of narrowly and broadly logical possibility. Simply put if con can present evidence or argument that successfully dismantles the kalam, con wins.
In 2003, scientists arvind borde and alexander vilenkin and alan guth published a paper documenting that the universe cannot be infinitely old the universe is expanding. Today this argument, largely forgotten since the time of kant, is once again back at center stage. Sound is defined as a logically valid argument that withstands all scrutiny. The logic likewise flows as follows and is simple in its presentation. The kalam cosmological argument is essentially timebound. The clocks were functioning, thus someone must have set them in motion, even if their winding had been designed to last a long time. May 03, 2012 william lane craig perhaps, the most well known proponent of the kalam cosmological argument gives a presentation on the philosophical the impossibility of an actual infinite number of things. The kalam cosmological argument is a product of the tradition of islamic science known as ilm al kalam, which was established in order to defend the islamic faith against academic criticism. There are two aspects of the kalam argument that especially make it different from st. When i first wrote on the kalam cosmological argument kca i primary was trying to write a detailed technical refutation of it, but i essentially granted the argument itself as being valid. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument james still. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument in professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. The kalam cosmological argument for god studies in analytic philosophy. Another form of cosmological argument is commonly referred to as the kalam.
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