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The Cosmological Argument

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Theism

Part of the book series: Philosophical Studies Series in Philosophy ((PSSP,volume 30))

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Abstract

Almost everyone who has reflected on theism is aware of the following argument: “The universe must have had a beginning, since an infinite series, or a set of infinite series, of causes and effects stretching back into the past ad infinitum is impossible”. I shall discuss that argument briefly at the end of this chapter. But before doing so, I shall consider a somewhat similar argument which originated with the 18th century English philosopher, Samuel Clarke. The latter argument does not deny the possibility of an infinite regress into the past; and, for that reason, a number of theists have found it more compelling than the anti–infinite regress argument. Now I think that in fact the anti–infinite regress argument has more merit than does Clarke’s argument. But, in order to facilitate an accurate assessment of the latter, I shall, for the time being, proceed on the assumption that an infinite causal regress into the past cannot be known to be impossible.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA

    Clement Dore

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  1. Clement Dore
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© 1984 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland

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Dore, C. (1984). The Cosmological Argument. In: Theism. Philosophical Studies Series in Philosophy, vol 30. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6300-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6300-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-6302-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-6300-9

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