Og

Can you explain the difference between contingency and first cause?

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Probability_Amplitude

Gladly. First cause states that somethings are caused and since an infinite regression is impossible, there must be an uncaused causer (God). As you can see, the argument is dependant on the impossibility of infinite regression.

Argument from contingency on the other hand is not dependant on infinite regression. In fact, if I am not mistaken, Avicenna (and later, Aquinas) developed the argument specifically to cover the objection of an eternal universe. The argument basically states that all the things in the universe are contingent, which ultimately means that there must have been a time when nothing existed, therefore requiring a non-contingent entity (God) to bring contingent entities into existance. Basically, it's the argument in my signature.

As you can read in the article, Hatcher concedes that mathematics has proven that an infinite regression is indeed possible - meaning his argument is most certainly not of the first cause variety.

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Og

What does it mean that there was a time when nothing existed? Why does that fact that everything depends upon everything else mean that there was a time when nothing existed?

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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

Probability_Amplitude

Yeah, I see what you're getting at. The contingent argument is just another variant of first cause. I wonder then, why would Avicenna (who believed in an eternal universe) construct such an argument?

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Og

Hindu theology is steeped in the eternal cyclic universe mythology. It's neat stuff.

__________________
Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

Tomasz

Involving mathemathics into God's matter is a crime against mathematics
Leave the Queen of sciences alone !
Make a deep bow and beg for her majesty's forgiveness

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