Difference between revisions of "First cause"
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The '''first cause''' is the postulate, popular in [[philosophy]] and [[theology]], that, since everything that happens must have a cause, everything is traceable back to a first cause, usually referred to as [[God]]. | The '''first cause''' is the postulate, popular in [[philosophy]] and [[theology]], that, since everything that happens must have a cause, everything is traceable back to a first cause, usually referred to as [[God]]. | ||
| − | A popular argument for atheism - along with being a popular scientific rebuttal of [[intelligent design]] - is the notion of the [[infinite regress]]. Every action or being requires a cause, so if God exists, God must have a cause; that cause also had a cause, and so on. | + | A popular argument for [[atheism]] - along with being a popular [[scientific]] rebuttal of [[intelligent design]] - is the notion of the [[infinite regress]]. Every action or being requires a cause, so if God exists, God must have a cause; that cause also had a cause, and so on, literally ''ad infinitum''. |
Christian theology (and some other religions as well) states that God is the "uncaused first cause"; that He is "eternally self-existent", or that He is "beyond time and space". | Christian theology (and some other religions as well) states that God is the "uncaused first cause"; that He is "eternally self-existent", or that He is "beyond time and space". | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
*[[Paradigm]] | *[[Paradigm]] | ||
*[[Entelechy]] | *[[Entelechy]] | ||
| − | *[[Special pleading]] | + | *[[Special pleading]] |
[[Category:Philosophy]] | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
[[Category:Theology]] | [[Category:Theology]] | ||
Revision as of 20:36, May 30, 2009
The first cause is the postulate, popular in philosophy and theology, that, since everything that happens must have a cause, everything is traceable back to a first cause, usually referred to as God.
A popular argument for atheism - along with being a popular scientific rebuttal of intelligent design - is the notion of the infinite regress. Every action or being requires a cause, so if God exists, God must have a cause; that cause also had a cause, and so on, literally ad infinitum.
Christian theology (and some other religions as well) states that God is the "uncaused first cause"; that He is "eternally self-existent", or that He is "beyond time and space".