The Kallam Argument Flashcards
Outline the Kallam Argument in logical formulation
P1- Everything that begins to exist must have a cause
P2- The universe began to exist
P3- Therefore the universe must have a cause
P4- This cause must be uncaused itself
C1- This cause must be God
How does Infinite Regress respond to the formulation?
If we can never find the cause of anything, or indeed God. We would be stuck in an infinite series of uncaused causes.
Kallam is never really finding the cause of anything if he can’t adequately explain how God came to be.
Theories of quantum mechanics object to Kallam, how?
Research into quantum mechanics suggests that matter can actually originate from a vacuum, which is categorised as “nothing.”
This appears to empirically deconstruct Kallam’s theory that everything must be caused and come from something. Scientific evidence bolsters this idea and the empirical data from the world also helps it prove itself with evidence rather than just reasoning.
