The Kalam Cosmological Argument and Actual Infinity
Location
PANEL: Philosophy Honors: Contemplating the Boundaries of Existence
CELA A019
Document Type
Presentation
Start Date
4-28-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
4-28-2023 11:00 AM
Abstract
Did the universe begin, and if so what caused it? In this paper, I analyze the Kalam Cosmological Argument and various objections against it. The Kalam Cosmological Argument essentially states that anything which begins has a cause, the universe began to exist, so the universe has a cause of its existence. I begin with a detailed explanation of what the Kalam Cosmological Argument is and then proceed to a discussion of arguments against the existence of infinity. Then, I consider objections against the claim that infinity cannot exist. After weighing these objections, I argue that the Kalam Cosmological Argument needs to be revised in certain ways in order to prove its conclusion that the universe had a beginning. I go about this by revising the premises regarding the existence of infinity and the notion of counting to infinity. In addition, if the Kalam Cosmological Argument cannot be revised in these ways we need to ultimately reject it.
Keywords:
Metaphysics, Cosmology, Time, Infinity
Recommended Citation
Farmer, Reagan, "The Kalam Cosmological Argument and Actual Infinity" (2023). Research Symposium. 13.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2023/presentations/13
Major
Philosophy
Project Mentor(s)
Amy Berg, Philosophy
Katherine Thomson-Jones, Philosophy
2023
The Kalam Cosmological Argument and Actual Infinity
PANEL: Philosophy Honors: Contemplating the Boundaries of Existence
CELA A019
Did the universe begin, and if so what caused it? In this paper, I analyze the Kalam Cosmological Argument and various objections against it. The Kalam Cosmological Argument essentially states that anything which begins has a cause, the universe began to exist, so the universe has a cause of its existence. I begin with a detailed explanation of what the Kalam Cosmological Argument is and then proceed to a discussion of arguments against the existence of infinity. Then, I consider objections against the claim that infinity cannot exist. After weighing these objections, I argue that the Kalam Cosmological Argument needs to be revised in certain ways in order to prove its conclusion that the universe had a beginning. I go about this by revising the premises regarding the existence of infinity and the notion of counting to infinity. In addition, if the Kalam Cosmological Argument cannot be revised in these ways we need to ultimately reject it.
