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Theme Changer

 Topic: The Kalam Argument

 (Read 27197 times)
  • 12 3 ... 5 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • The Kalam Argument
     OP - October 03, 2011, 07:03 PM

    Contemporary argument:

    William Lane Craig has formulated the argument as follows:

    1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
    2. The universe began to exist.
    3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
    4. This cause is the God of Classical Theism, and is a personal being, because He chose to create the universe.

    I believe Hamza the Greek uses this argument?

    But science invalidates this. So why use it?

    Discuss...






    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #1 - October 03, 2011, 07:18 PM

    science has nothing to do with this argument.

    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #2 - October 03, 2011, 07:21 PM

    It has.

    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #3 - October 03, 2011, 07:22 PM

    Then you are wrong. Smiley

    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #4 - October 03, 2011, 07:23 PM

    How so?

    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #5 - October 03, 2011, 07:33 PM

     popcorn

    "Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so." -- Bertrand Russell

    Baloney Detection Kit
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #6 - October 03, 2011, 07:43 PM

    I'll join you ateapotist...  popcorn
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #7 - October 03, 2011, 07:45 PM

    1. whatever does not begin to exist, does not exist
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #8 - October 03, 2011, 07:46 PM

    How so?

    because it's a human argument based on nothing but what the human mind can imagine. The idea itself is a logical paradox. Nothing scientific about that.

    I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
    In somebody else's sky, but why, why, why
    Can't it be, can't it be mine

    https://twitter.com/AlharbiMoe
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #9 - October 03, 2011, 07:54 PM

    How so?


    The scientific enterprise is engaged in providing algorithmic hypotheses to try and incrementally improve models of thought that purport to causally explain observable phenomena. Science cannot and should not attempt to answer ontological questions.
    If the universe has a cause outside of itself then it is, by its very definition, beyond the scientific enterprise. Science can only describe the universe once it is, not how it came to be in the first place.
    I can expand further but I did start this topic on my thoughts when scientific explanations attempt to answer the cosmogony question.

    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #10 - October 03, 2011, 08:02 PM

    1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.


    Premise 1 is incorrect, we have never observed anything "begin to exist."

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #11 - October 03, 2011, 09:10 PM

    "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics". -Feynman

    if you claim to understand the conditions of the universe when it was a singularity.. you don't really know what you're talking about. doesn't matter who you are. but one thing is for sure.. the universe did not 'begin to exist' at the big bang... i would only go so far as to say the universe 'as we know it' began to take shape at the big bang.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #12 - October 03, 2011, 09:41 PM

    This might help

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxNbXjBbzEo

    I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
    In somebody else's sky, but why, why, why
    Can't it be, can't it be mine

    https://twitter.com/AlharbiMoe
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #13 - October 03, 2011, 10:19 PM

    there's a massive humungus missing link between points 3 and 4

    how do you make the jump from their being a 'cause' or a 'first cause' to stating that the cause is a 'supernatural god' without providing any proof or reasoning to it?

    ...by doing that you're inducing the metaphysical into physical...and everybody knows all physical mass that's presently observable is produced from a previous physical energy, there's not a single piece of evidence of anything physical being produced from something metaphysical.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #14 - October 03, 2011, 10:25 PM

    there's a massive humungus missing link between points 3 and 4

    how do you make the jump from their being a 'cause' or a 'first cause' to stating that the cause is a 'supernatural god' without providing any proof or reasoning to it?

    ...by doing that you're inducing the metaphysical into physical...and everybody knows all physical mass that's presently observable is produced from a previous physical energy, there's not a single piece of evidence of anything physical being produced from something metaphysical.


    good point. i'll use that.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #15 - October 04, 2011, 05:08 AM

    Premise 1 is incorrect, we have never observed anything "begin to exist."


    That's a good point. It is difficult to say with any certainty that new ontological beings ever come into existence.

    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #16 - October 04, 2011, 08:17 AM

    Indeed, the natural state of affairs in "nothingness" might be for "somethingness" to exist.

    Theists implore us to use our instincts which we have based on a macroscopic world and apply them to a quantum world - and that simply does not work.  If it did, quantum physics would make sense Smiley

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #17 - October 04, 2011, 10:59 AM

    Thanks for this thread Gladfly, helped to clarify my flawed arguments regarding the Kalam argument. I've got a sit down with some local Imams coming up so I want to sharpen my arguments.

    Here's a segment from the Atheist experience debunking the argument
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlPwbd5NHaQ

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpZIVF2dlHE&NR=1
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #18 - October 04, 2011, 05:01 PM

    I would like to know some philosphical criticism of the argument. I remember reading kant crticised it but i forgot on what grounds he did.




    Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. [carl sagan]
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #19 - October 04, 2011, 05:22 PM

    Premise 1 is incorrect, we have never observed anything "begin to exist."

    ^
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #20 - October 04, 2011, 05:27 PM

    I would like to know some philosphical criticism of the argument. I remember reading kant crticised it but i forgot on what grounds he did.


    This is pretty in-depth and uses a lot of philosophical jargon, but here:

    http://forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/a-response-to-the-kalamcosmological-arguments-38724.html

    Have you heard the good news? There is no God!
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #21 - October 04, 2011, 07:30 PM

    The scientific enterprise is engaged in providing algorithmic hypotheses to try and incrementally improve models of thought that purport to causally explain observable phenomena. Science cannot and should not attempt to answer ontological questions.
    If the universe has a cause outside of itself then it is, by its very definition, beyond the scientific enterprise. Science can only describe the universe once it is, not how it came to be in the first place.
    I can expand further but I did start this topic on my thoughts when scientific explanations attempt to answer the cosmogony question.


    First of all write simple!

    The above sounds like ego masturbation Wink

    Quote
    1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
    2. The universe began to exist.
    3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
    4. This cause is the God of Classical Theism, and is a personal being, because He chose to create the universe.


    Point 4 is bonkers! It can be rejected on being bonkers alone!

    Point 2 and 3

    So science has nothing to say about origin of the Universe?

    Thats nonsense!

    It is science that is discovering what reality is!

    It is science that is telling us that universe did not begin to exist but that it started from something small. It was already there!

    Point 1

    Everything has a cause?

    Reality at the quantum level is random!


    So Kalam argument is invalidated.



    Science triuamphs again!






    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #22 - October 04, 2011, 07:58 PM

    First of all write simple!



    I apologise, perhaps I'll formulate my thoughts clearer below


    Quote
    Point 4 is bonkers! It can be rejected on being bonkers alone!


    Sure, I would reject it too. However, being bonkers is being illogical, not being unscientific. We do not need science here.

    Quote
    Point 2 and 3

    So science has nothing to say about origin of the Universe?

    Thats nonsense!

    It is science that is discovering what reality is!

    It is science that is telling us that universe did not begin to exist but that it started from something small. It was already there!


    I think you are confusing the beginning of this universe with the true origin of it All. It may well be the case that this universe started from something previous 14bn years ago, but then the question of the origin just gets pushed back further, not refuted altogether.
    However, there are good rational reasons for why science cannot answer the question of the origin.

    1. Science is the study of all phenomena.
    2. The origin of the cosmos is the origin of all phenomena.
    3. To answer the question of the origin then we need to be beyond phenomena to know. This is because using phenomena to try to explain the origin of phenomena is a futile loop, if a cause exists then it cannot be itself.
    4. Science cannot go beyond phenomena.
    5. Science cannot answer the question of the origin of the universe.

    Quote
    Point 1

    Everything has a cause?

    Reality at the quantum level is random!


    I think you are mistaken about quantum activity. First of all, being random does not automatically mean being cause-less. The phenomena observed at the quantum level are extremely counter-intuitive but it does not spring from an Absolute Nothing. Many respected current physical theories, such as quantum field theory, M theory and general relativity support the idea that quantum phenomena are caused by fluctuations in the underlying quantum field, string dimensions and/or space-time structure. There is no such thing as an uncaused quantum event. We have insurmountable difficulties in the form of the Heiseberg principle in defining that cause coherently for all its variables but this uncertainty has been explained, by scientists themselves may I add, by the movements of the quantum field quite thoroughly.  
    This is not to say that point 1 is true. Point 1 may well be false, but science is not available to answer that question.

    Quote
    So Kalam argument is invalidated.



    Science triuamphs again!


    I think the Kalam argument has weaknesses but none of them have anything to do with science.


    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #23 - October 04, 2011, 08:06 PM

    z10 is having a serious discussion with gladfly.. that's adorable.

     grin12
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #24 - October 05, 2011, 11:34 AM

    Okay, for the first time ever here are my objections to the KCA.  It doesn't look like I am going to use them against Hamza, so I may as well post them Smiley

    1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
    2. The universe began to exist.
    3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
    4. There cannot be an infinite regression of natural causes to get here, so something must have decided to create the universe
    5. Therefore the creator of the universe must be a conscious entity which is itself uncaused and exists in an eternal realm.
    6. Occam's razor says there should only be one god, because you don't need two.


    >1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.

    We have never observed anything "begin to exist."  We have only ever seen things made out of other material that already exists.  A wooden table is made out of a tree.  To compare the act of transforming matter into new configurations with something which is claimed to have spontaneously existed out of nothing is a fallacy....unless the claim is that god only "reconfigured" the matter/energy of the universe and that this matter/energy always existed.  In which case, it would be more likely that the intelligent "reconfigurer" of the universe was created out of the matter/energy to start with.


    >2. The universe began to exist.

    This is an unproven assertion.  The universe was once very small and existed in a different configuration.  Our current understanding of physics does not explain what happens to massive objects when they get smaller than a specific size, so the origin of the energy which created the universe is unknown; yet there are numerous uncorroborated scientific theories we are pursuing.


    >3. Therefore the universe has a cause

    Incorrect based on 1+2.  The universe's configuration changed, that I agree probably had a cause but not necessarily the universe itself.


    >4. There cannot be an infinite regression of natural causes to get here, so something must have decided to create the universe

    An infinite number of events can have passed if we have an infinite amount of time before now.  However this just changes the argument from an infinite number of events to an infinite amount of time so answers nothing.

    In fact theists deliberately say "infinite number of past events" to disguise that the real problem is an infinite amount of time.  They do this simply because an uncreated entity must have existed for an infinite amount of time before creating the universe.  So they change "infinite time" to "infinite number of events" and then change god to an "eternal" entity rather than one that has "existed forever."


    >5. Therefore the creator of the universe must be a conscious entity which is itself uncaused and exists in an eternal realm.

    If you reword their claim with compatible words you get the following
    "The universe could not have been created by an infinite series of natural events because infinite time cannot have passed for us to reach 'now', so I propose that a god that has existed for an infinite amount of time before 'now' waited an infinite amount of time and then created the universe."

    The usual counter argument is that god lives in a "timeless" realm.  If this is the case then there is no change.  If there is change then there is a rate of change and thus a measurement of time.  Without change God cannot create.  More importantly there is no cause followed by effect, and thus god cannot decide to create the universe and THEN create it, so god either had no choice, or played no part.

    And if a "timeless realm" exists, then how do we know a natural phenomenon does not exist within this "timeless realm" creating new bubbles with universes within them each within their own "timeful realm"?



    >6. Occam's razor says there should only be one god, because you don't need two.

    Occam's razor says not to add complexities to an answer which are superfluous.  The problem is that the Abrahmic god goes against Occam's razor.

    A) God is all-powerful
    Occam's razor requires the cause of the universe only need be powerful enough to cause the universe.

    B) God is all-knowing
    Occam's razor only requires god to know how to make a universe - or to know nothing at all but merely act in a way which created the universe.

    C) God is omnipresent
    Occam's razor only requires god to be present at the relevant place/time to create the universe, not everywhere + everytime all at the same time.

    D) God is eternal
    Occam's razor only requires god to exist for long enough to create the universe, it does not necessitate that god did not die in the process.

    E) There only needs to be one god
    You only need one god if god is all-powerful, but omnipotence is not necessary, and can already be argued to be superfluous.  There is nothing in Occam's razor which states that two entities only half-powerful enough to create a universe could not have combined efforts.  Or 100 entities with 100th of the power.


    In fact using Occam's razor means all we need is a non-intelligent cause which reacted naturally in a way which would create a universe, and that this cause could be an unimaginably massive amount of tiny natural limited-power phenomenon which continuously bubbles around doing its stuff and that this occasionally combines in such a way which results in a high energy patch which then forms a bubble with a universe within it (like heated water which bubbles due to pockets of expanded water.)

    The end.

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #25 - October 05, 2011, 07:03 PM

    I think you are confusing the beginning of this universe with the true origin of it All.


    true origin?

    And what discovered the "false" origin of the Universe?

    Science!

    Quote
    5. Science cannot answer the question of the origin of the universe.


    And what discovered the big bang and the counter-intuitive reality of the quantum world?

    It was not your crappy philosophy But Science!





    Quote
    Many respected current physical theories, such as quantum field theory, M theory and general relativity support the idea that quantum phenomena are caused by fluctuations in the underlying quantum field,


    And quantum fluctations are?

    You guessed it Random!

    Science triaumphs again!





    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #26 - October 05, 2011, 07:37 PM

    @Gladfly I myself am a huge science fan and will agree with you on most of the stuff. But you just come across as quite ignorant and arrogant.




    Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. [carl sagan]
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #27 - October 05, 2011, 07:45 PM

    You agree with most and yet you say ignorant?
    How does that work?!

    Arrogant?

    To discover universal truths using the power of thought alone is supremely arrogant!

    And not only arrogant it is also a bonkers position!

    As for my arrogance dont worry about it. It is wholly benovolent and it is only for the show Wink








    Little Fly, Thy summer's play
    My thoughtless hand has brushed away.

    I too dance and drink, and sing,
    Till some blind hand shall brush my wing.

    Therefore I am a happy fly,
    If I live or if I die.
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #28 - October 05, 2011, 11:47 PM

    true origin?

    And what discovered the "false" origin of the Universe?

    Science!

    And what discovered the big bang and the counter-intuitive reality of the quantum world?

    It was not your crappy philosophy But Science!





    And quantum fluctations are?

    You guessed it Random!

    Science triaumphs again!







    sure

    At evening, casual flocks of pigeons make
    Ambiguous undulations as they sink,
    Downward to darkness, on extended wings. - Stevens
  • Re: The Kalam Argument
     Reply #29 - October 05, 2011, 11:54 PM

    Philosophy always triumphs when science triumphs because philosophy brought science. Wink

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