Open AccessCan Causal Chains Extend Back Infinitely?
Author(s) -
Travis Dumsday
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
forum philosophicum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2353-7043
pISSN - 1426-1898
DOI - 10.35765/forphil.2014.1902.10
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , epistemology , philosophy , mathematical economics , positive economics , law and economics , economics , biochemistry , chemistry
I develop a new argument to the effect that past causal chains cannot extend back infinitely, but must instead terminate in a first uncaused cause (or causes). It has the advantage of sidestepping a historically prominent objection to cosmological arguments of this general type, one leveled by Aquinas and various other Scholastics.