A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the b. A refutation of the kalam cosmological argument for god. Pdf we present a formal analysis of the revised version of the kalam cosmo. A modern version of the cosmological argument william lane craig.
God is the best explanation of the origin of the universe. 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. 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 for the existence of god originated and became highly developed in islamic theology during the late middle ages. Kodi archive and support file vintage software community software apk msdos cdrom software cdrom software library. It gets its name from the word kalam, which refers to arabic philosophy or theology. It is packed with excellent information and an extensive bibliography after each section. The most prominent form of the argument, as defended by william lane craig, states the kalam cosmological argument as the following brief syllogism. Pdf kalam cosmological argument and the modern science. 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. Craig and coauthor james sinclair have argued the low entropy interface. I will list each one by name and explain the main problem with each. 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.
Here is william lane craigs response, and here is morristons counter. The argument, in its simplest form, is that i whatever begins to. 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. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. Traditionally the argument was used to demonstrate the impossibility of an actual infinite existing in the real world, as well as an.
The expansion of the universe points to its beginningto a big bangas one retraces the universes expansion in time. Specifically, i focus on the philosopher william lane craigs defense of the argument given in his academic writings, public debates, and online articles. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig. Is the kalam cosmological argument a sound proof for god. The scientific kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. It is then argued that the cause of those things existence had to be a godtype thing. Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and theology. Or is the material universe all that is, or ever was, or ever will be. Counter arguments to the attempts to use the cosmological or kalam cosmological argument. Argument more recently advocated by william lane craig. William lane craig has refined it to make it the cornerstone of his argument for the existence of the god of christianity.
Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of theism oxford university press, oxford, 1982 is superficial, and that mackie has failed to provide any compelling or even intuitively. 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. W e discuss both premises of the argument in the light of modern logi cal, semantic. It was popularized by william lane craig in his book, the kalam cosmological argument 1979 the arguments key underpinning idea is the metaphysical impossibility of actual infinities and of. It is irrational, paradoxical, incoherent, and dishonest. What follows is a short presentation of the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god. The kalam cosmological argument has grown in popularity today, mostly through the work of dr.
A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory of time curtis j. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological. May 24, 2000 of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. If you are like me, you have heard william lane craig speak on the kalam for years. Craig explains and evaluates, and later defends, ghazalis cosmological argument. William lane craigs kalam cosmological argument is worse than just being unconvincing. The cosmological argument derives its title from observing the world around us the cosmos. 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.
The sources used in this presentation are documented according to current modern language association standards. The traditional form of the kalam cosmological argument is craig 1991. The kalam cosmological argument is constructed as follows. The kalam s line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite. The most simple criticism of the kalam cosmological argument. The word kalam is an arabic word that denotes medieval islamic theology. William lane craig is a theologian whom i have encountered before because of his advocacy of what is known as divine command theory that asserts that things are morally good or bad, or morally obligatory, permissible, or prohibited, solely because of gods will or commands, and results in him justifying the most horrendous atrocities, both biblical and contemporary. William lane craig advances an argument for the existence of god in the kalam cosmological argument london.
Craig infers the existence of a personal god from the supposedly finite past of the universe. But taylors proffered defeaters of the premisses of the philosophical arguments for. Software sites tucows software library shareware cdroms software capsules compilation cdrom images zx spectrum doom level cd. The existence of god and the beginning of the universe. Two recent scientific discoveries have yielded plausible prima facie physical evidence for the beginning of the universe.
William lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam. William lane craig, an evangelical protestant philosopher who dedicated his doctoral work to the argument in 1979. In 1979, craig popularized this argument, based on his aforementioned ph. The aim of this work is not, however, to show that. It features heavily in many of craig s debates, books, and articles.
Some current cosmological speculation is based upon attempts to craft models based upon possible. A swift and simple refutation of the kalam cosmological. Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of theism oxford university press, oxford, 1982 is superficial, and that mackie has failed to provide any compelling or even intuitively appealing. The cosmological argument from plato to leibniz william. William lane craig is a professor of philosophy at talbot school of theology and at houston baptist university, usa. The scientific kalam cosmological argument reasonable faith. 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. Consult the cited works of craig for a more thorough statement and defense of the argument. It features heavily in many of craigs debates, books, and articles. William lane craig is a theologian whom i have encountered before because of his advocacy of what is known as. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. Craig focuses on the scientific evidence for the premises of the kalam cosmological argument for a personal creator of the universe. Cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p.
Muslim theologians, when islam swept over egypt in north africa, absorbed the christian thought that had been in those areas, like in alexandria, which was the center of christian learning. I for the second premise craig moreland o er four arguments i two are scienti c. The kalam argument popular writings reasonable faith. William lane craig defends the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god against various refutations. Metcalfe abstract william lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam cosmological argument. One approach to answering this question is the cosmological argument. Craig may perhaps not unreasonably be accused of emphasizing intuitions that support the picture of creation he wishes to defend, and neglecting those that dont. A swift and simple refutation of the kalam cosmological argument. W e discuss both premises of the argument in the light of modern logi cal, semantic and cosmological insights and conclude that. On the kalam cosmological argument common sense atheism. In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. You have probably heard all the points and probably know them by heart. 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.
Jul 25, 2017 this is a particular form of the cosmological argument developed in a modern form primarily by william lane craig. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past. Kalam cosmological argument bibliography philpapers. The distinctive feature of kalamstyle cosmology is its stress on the. Craig is best known for his version of the kalam cosmological argument kca. As a boy i wondered at the existence of the universe. But it is precisely the aim of the kalam cosmological argument to show that the universe is not.
The ancient kalam cosmological argument maintains that the series of past events is finite and that therefore the universe began to exist. Though cosmological arguments in general have been one of the traditional groups of arguments for theism, the kalam cosmological argument has not enjoyed as much attention until craigs more recent exposition. Craigs kca is a variation of the centuriesold cosmological argument originating in islamic philosophy which argues for the existence of a personal first cause for the universe. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument. The kalam cosmological argument essay 1100 words cram. See william lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument and the hypothesis of a quiescent universe, faith and philosophy 8 1991.
Introduction to the kalam cosmological argument calum miller. Defending the cosmological argument by william lane craig. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig and james sinclair. The kalam cosmological argument as oft stated by theists, most notably william lane craig, is as follows. In his book, craig argues that since the universe began to exist, the efficient cause of the universes existence must have been god. These questions are taken up by the medievalthough recentlyrevived kalam cosmological argument, which has. 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. This is a particular form of the cosmological argument developed in a modern form primarily by william lane craig. And yet, it remains one of the most popular arguments for gods existence, not just among average theists, but even among intelligent and sophisticated professional apologists. 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.
In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to. If the argument stopped there, well alls well that ends well. The borde guth vilenkin theorem supports the absolute beginning of the universe. In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. The kalam cosmological argument, volume 1 paul copan, william. On the kalam cosmological argument boxing pythagoras. This paper examines the kalam cosmological argument, as put forward by william craig. Whatever begins to exist, has a cause of its existence.
He does use slides to show the structure of his arguments. How to defend the kalam cosmological argument just like. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig and. We have already commented on the origin of this popular. If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is god. In recent years, christian philosopher william lane craig has brought the kalam cosmological argument back into the spotlight. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig auth. I aim to defend of version of the kalam cosmological argument that. Pdf craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument. The cosmological argument from plato to leibniz william lane craig auth. 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. The aim of this work is not, however, to show that the kca is.
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