I have heard some non-theists claim that the universe never had a beginning - it's just always been (though obviously not in its present form) However, in my
article at the Alfred Society in response to Hume's
Dialogue Concerning Natural Religion, I point out that such a position is deeply problematic. Just consider for a moment: the conditioned can never arrive until the conditions are complete; but if those conditions are infinite then they can never be complete (one could never reach the top of an infinite set of stairs no matter how long one climbed.) Now the conditions on which present cause and effects exist is that all the past causes and effects have been completed. It follows that if those conditions are infinite (that is, if the past series of cause and effect recedes infinitely into the past), then they can never be complete and we could never have reached the present moment.
Or consider again. An actual infinite, by definition, cannot be added to. However, if the past series of events forms an actually infinite then each new moment in time is adding to that infinite, which is impossible. Since, by definition, one cannot traverse an actual infinite, the past series of events cannot stretch backward to infinity otherwise we would never have reached the present moment.
(Such an argument only applies to properties within a time sequence. Thus, it does not bare relation on the infinity of God unless it were first assumed that God’s existence also flows in the time stream of past, present and future. But such an assumption is questionable.)
1 comment:
The arguments here reminded me of a long distant comment on ZENO - which I read in a long distant philosophy class. He made up these tiny, boxed in little arguments which "proved" some things...as long as you stayed in his tight little world...and explored no further.
My philosophy skills are rusty...so I can't replicate Mr. Phillip's forensic dissection of Hume...and his applications to those who still tapdance around and carefully AVOID the Elephant in the Room ---
...to me an amateur artist...with a partially engineering oriented mind--where I grew up daily seeing parents, relatives make, design, paint and fix things...designer builders...
...The Beauty and Structure of the universe slaps me in the face...with the evidence of a Designer who uses and displays the principles of Good Design ...which even the most atheistic artist uses and learns from....
That is the Elephant in the Room...Maybe some philisophers tug on the elephant's tail only & say "Poor example..."...
Note that Design principles sometimes read like Christian theology...See this website for a quick summary of art principles of design...he uses butterfiles & sunflowers to illustrate some principles http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/Compose.htm)
Some may say "Aha" Goshen College is run by Christians. But search yourself...Other totally secular sites (notably when searching for "Design Principles") will "preach" almost the same message of the principles of good design.
Your own eyes can decide...Is there a Cosmic Designer...who has wonderfully applied these principles...or not?
PS students first encountering HUME in college may want to reference this essay...in order to aid their understanding...
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