Craig s 2015 lecture at the university of birmingham, where he did his doctoral studies which led to the revival of the kalam cosmological argument in our day. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory. This argument depends crucially on the idea that the universe had a beginning in time and essentially has the following logical structure. Introduction to the kalam cosmological argument calum miller. If an actual infinite cannot exist, then the series of past events cannot be actually infinite. Craig argues oppy has not succeeded in defending the objections of grunbaum, davies, and hawking against the kalam cosmological argument. However theologians have a long history of trying to do so and craig spends a lot his energy trying to provide scientific and mathematical support for the socalled kalam cosmological argument. John taylor complains that the kalam cosmological argument gives the appearance of being a swift and simple demonstration of the existence of a creator of the universe, whereas in fact a convincing argument involving the premiss that the universe began to exist is very difficult to achieve. Craig focuses on the scientific evidence for the premises of the kalam cosmological argument for a personal creator of the universe. This is not supposed to represent an endorsement of the argument, but merely serves as an introduction to it. Aquinas thought a temporally finite universe could not be demonstrated by reason. Copan and craig perhaps take their kalam argument to express a. Potential things building to become infinite actual permanent, necessary e. We present a formal analysis of the cosmological argument in its two main forms.
Craigs argument and then proceed with the change argument. The cosmological argument derives its title from observing the world around us the cosmos. The kalam cosmological argument was first formulated in medieval islamic scholasticism, and it was revived and has been a topic of. Is there a good counter argument to the kalam cosmological. The kalam cosmological argument as oft stated by theists, most notably william lane craig, is as follows. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig. William lane craigs kalam cosmological argument kca requires that an a theory of time is correct. Defending the cosmological argument by william lane craig. The aim of this work is not, however, to show that the kca is. I am currently mapping william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god, along with all its supporting arguments, counterarguments, countercounterarguments, and so on this page serves as an underconstruction bibliography of academic books, chapters, and journal articles written about the points defended in craigs version of the kalam since. As a boy i wondered at the existence of the universe. It features heavily in many of craigs debates, books, and articles.
The ancient kalam cosmological argument maintains that the series of past events is finite and that therefore the universe began to exist. The kalam s line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite. Kalam cosmological argument in reasonable faith, 3rd edition, 2008. William lane craig is a professor of philosophy at talbot school of theology and at houston baptist university, usa. Dec 28, 2011 logically complete cosmological concept. I will list each one by name and explain the main problem with each. Sep 10, 2012 i have, over the years, been a keen objector to the kalam cosmological argument, an argument that apologists like william lane craig use to posit the existence of a creator god for the universe. In recent years, christian philosopher william lane craig has brought the kalam cosmological argument back into the spotlight. Mcleod, problems in contemporary philosophy 24 lewiston, n. It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man. For those of higher learning, this is a book that will explain how the philosophers from plato to leibniz speak of the cosmological argument even when the early philosophers were not even intending to prove theism.
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. Professor william craigs criticisms of critiques of kalam. In this paper i present objections to the kalam cosmological argument kca, a modernized formulation of the general class of cosmological arguments for the existence of god. 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. Finally, a brief overview of why that first cause must be god will be considered.
Graham oppy on the kalam cosmological argument william lane craig talbot school of theology, usa 9. Summary of william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument. Or is the material universe all that is, or ever was, or ever will be. Cosmological argument stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. It features heavily in many of craig s debates, books, and articles. Is the kalam cosmological argument a sound proof for god.
I like the way william lane craig has wrote the book it is so clear and easy to understand. A refutation of the kalam cosmological argument for god. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past bloomsbury studies in philosophy of religion 97815030797. Inverse operations with transfinite numbers and the kalam cosmological argument 1995 by graham oppy in a reply to quentin smith, craig complained that smith had. Summary of william lane craig s kalam cosmological argument the rest of the posts in this series can be found here. Craig, 9781579104382, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
In this article i take issue with one of these arguments, what i call the namely, that the metaphysical absurdity of an actually infinite number of things existing precludes the possibility of a. Why the big bang singularity does not help the kalam. A swift and simple refutation of the kalam cosmological. The kalam cosmological argument, volume 1 paul copan, william. Leibniz continues by quoting horace about joining to a human head a.
On guard by william lane craig 1 whatever begins to exist has a cause. The kalam cosmological argument what we call today the kalam cosmological argument, was first made by aristotle and then by islamic scholars in the 9th century. William lane craig advances an argument for the existence of god in the kalam cosmological argument london. As craig explains, from start to finish, the kalam cosmological argument is predicated upon the atheory of time. William lane craig, a doctor of philosophy and theology, quoted vilenkin in defense of his kalam cosmological argument. 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. In his book, craig argues that since the universe began to exist, the efficient cause of the universes existence must have been god. Lawhead, the symmetry of the past and future in the kalam cosmological argument, and robert prevost, classical theism and the kalam principle, in the logic of rational theism, ed. A defense for the tenability of 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. Kalam cosmological argument william lane craig types of infinite. The scientific kalam cosmological argument william lane craig.
The cosmological argument from plato to leibniz library of philosophy and religion. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. William lane craig defends the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god against various refutations. Specifically, i focus on the philosopher william lane craigs defense of the argument given in his academic writings, public debates, and online articles. If the argument stopped there, well alls well that ends well. Mar 20, 2014 kalam cosmological argument william lane craig types of infinite. Craigs 2015 lecture at the university of birmingham, where he did his doctoral studies which led to the revival of the kalam cosmological argument in our day. Whatever begins to exist, has a cause of its existence. The word kalam is an arabic word that denotes medieval islamic. Closed systems, explanations, and the cosmological argument in international journal for philosophy of religion, 2007. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological. Kalam cosmological argument bibliography philpapers. An argument against the buddhist concept of dependent.
The argument holds three premises that are as follows. A swift and simple refutation of the kalam cosmological argument. In this published research paper from the journal astrophysics and space science, william lane craig responds to the several naturalistic attempts to evade the implications of the kalam argument. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. It is then argued that the cause of those things existence had to be a godtype thing. By contrast, william lane craig argues more carefully and concludes more modestly. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig and.
This thesis will attempt to show that the buddhist concept of dependent origination is inconsistent based on the philosophical and empirical evidences of william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument. Metcalfe abstract william lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam cosmological argument. Two recent scientific discoveries have yielded plausible prima facie physical evidence for the beginning of the universe. William lane craig, an evangelical protestant philosopher who dedicated his doctoral work to the argument in 1979. In this discussion note, i shall try to state succinctly why i think this attempt does not succeed the existence of an actual infinite. I have, over the years, been a keen objector to the kalam cosmological argument, an argument that apologists like william lane craig use to posit the existence of a creator god for the universe. Among the more popular apologetics arguments today is the kalam cosmological argument, an argument that has been theorized and popularized by philosopher william lane craig. These questions are taken up by the medievalthough recentlyrevived kalam cosmological argument, which has. A defense for the tenability of the kalam cosmological. The argument, in its simplest form, is that i whatever begins to. I note that there is no contradiction involved in these things. William lane craig has refined it to make it the cornerstone of his argument for the existence of the god of christianity. How to defend the kalam cosmological argument just like. Mackies objections to the kalam cosmological argument, to which i responded in my article dr.
On a btheory of time, the universe does not in fact come into being or become actual at the big bang. In defense of the kalam cosmological argument 1997 by william lane craig craigs reply to the present paper. The cosmological argument is less a particular argument than an argument type. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory of time curtis j. Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and. Mackies objections to the kalam cosmological argument. Cosmological argument kalam argument according to craig, the kalam cosmological argument is constructed as follows. May, 2009 the kalam cosmological argument for god, 2007.
William lane craig is a theologian whom i have encountered before because of his advocacy of what is known as. Universe had a beginning at some moment in finite past and since something cant come from nothing, there must be a transcendent cause which. He has authored or edited over forty books, including theism, atheism, and big bang cosmology 1995, god, time, and eternity 2001, and god over all 2016, as well as over 150 articles in journals such as the journal of philosophy, american philosophical quarterly. The kalam cosmological argument has grown in popularity today, mostly through the work of dr. I will present an argument, which is based on scott cliftons theoreticalbullshit argument which attempts to uses william lain craig s kalam cosmological argument for god to prove that god does not exist. The expansion of the universe points to its beginningto a big bangas one retraces the universes expansion in time.
So i think that the first premise of the kalam cosmological argument is surely true. Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of theism is superficial, and that mackie has failed to provide any compelling or even intuitively appealing objection against. One approach to answering this question is the cosmological argument. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p. Kalam cosmological argument for first cause of beginning of universe a. Smiths most recent criticism of the kalam cosmological argument is also a denial of the. 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. It was popularized by william lane craig in his book, the kalam cosmological argument 1979. As one who has little training in philosophy and the cosmological argument, i found this book extremely helpful. The kalam argument popular writings reasonable faith. 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. Methuselahs diary and the finitude of the past pdf.
Originally developed by arab islamic scholars in middle ages 2. The kalam cosmological argument and the principle of sufficient reason david s. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the b. Big bang cosmology not especially congenial to faith. The kalam cosmological argument the righter report. Sep 27, 2010 william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument kca requires that an a theory of time is correct. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past bloomsbury studies in philosophy of religion. I will present an argument, which is based on scott cliftons theoreticalbullshit argument which attempts to uses william lain craigs kalam cosmological argument for god to prove that god does not exist. The kalam cosmological argument is an exercise in positive deist apology. Excerpt from arguing about gods graham oppy monash university, australia 8. William lane craigs defence of the kalam cosmological argument rests heavily on two philosophical arguments against a pasteternal universe.
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