Quentin smith, kalam cosmological arguments for atheism, in e cambridge companion to atheism, ed. Arguing about the kalam cosmological argument william lane craigs defence of kalam cosmological arguments has generated a large amount of discussion. 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. Eq 6 explain william lane craigs kalam cosmological.
Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of theism oxford university press, oxford, 1982 is super. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Craig focuses on the scientific evidence for the premises of the kalam cosmological argument for a personal creator of the universe. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory of time curtis j.
Pdf ebooks can be used on all reading devices immediate ebook download after purchase. What we call today the kalam cosmological argument, was first made by aristotle and then by islamic scholars in the 9th century. Cosmological argument kalam argument according to craig, the kalam cosmological argument is constructed as follows. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig. Whatever begins to exist, has a cause of its existence. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. I note that there is no contradiction involved in these things. First, craig argues that the universe began to exist, using two philosophical and two. William lane craigs kalam cosmological argument maintains that the universe had a beginning. Craigs book, the kalam cosmological argument, is essential reading for anyone interested in this controversial, but highly compelling, argument. The kalam cosmological argument, by showing that the universe began to exist, demonstrates that the world is not a necessary being and, therefore, not selfexplanatory with respect to its existence. Hopefully, it covers in some way all of the many issues with the argument.
Specifically, i focus on the philosopher william lane craigs defense of the argument given in his academic writings, public debates, and online articles. Pdf arguing about the kalam cosmological argument graham. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument in professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. The k a l a m c o sm o l o g i c a l a r g u m e n t is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. Craig s book, the kalam cosmological argument, is essential reading for anyone interested in this controversial, but highly compelling, argument. 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.
The word kalam is an arabic word that denotes medieval islamic. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. We present a formal analysis of the cosmological argument in its two main forms. So i think that the first premise of the kalam cosmological argument is surely true. View kalam cosmological argument research papers on academia. Moreover, the leibnizian argument is reinforced by the support which the kalam cosmological argument adds to premises 1 and 2. Argument more recently advocated by william lane craig. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past bloomsbury studies in philosophy of religion 97815030797.
William lane craig has refined it to make it the cornerstone of his argument for the existence of the god of christianity. Isbn 97849041541 digitally watermarked, drmfree included format. 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. 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. William lane craig comments, ockhams razor says do not multiply causes beyond necessity. In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j.
In my experience, both wlc and other apologist use the word universe in a myriad of different ways, depending on what part of the argument they are trying to support. William lane craigs defence of kalam cosmological arguments has generated a large amount of discussion in the years since the publication of his book on that topic. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument james still. Cosmological argument stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. William lane craig 5 arguments for god debunked part 2 of 5 kalam cosmological argument hi and welcome to part 2 of my attempt to debunk william lane craigs 5 arguments for god. The scientific kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. The cosmological argument derives its title from observing the world around us the cosmos. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig auth. An essential property of a being that exists by a necessity of its own nature is that it be eternal, that is. The arguments can be grouped into three basic types. Pdf craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument. The argument, in its simplest form, is that i whatever begins to. You are only justified in inferring such causes as are sufficient to explain the effect.
One of his arguments for this premise aims to show that a beginningless universe is metaphysically impossible, either because an actual infinite cannot exist because it would result in counterintuitive absurdities, or because time consists of a. Start studying eq 6 explain william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Countering william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument available on both ebook and paperback. Two philosophical arguments and two scientific confirmations are presented in support of the beginning of the universe. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the b. Metcalfe abstract william lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam cosmological argument. In his widely discussed writings william lane craig marshals multidisciplinary evidence for the truth of the premises found in the kalam argument. Eternity and time in william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument.
He holds faculty positions at talbot school of theology biola university and houston baptist university. Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past. Craig explains and evaluates, and later defends, ghazalis cosmological argument. In recent years, christian philosopher william lane craig has brought the kalam cosmological argument back into the spotlight. Moreland 1 the project of natural theology 1 charles taliaferro 2 the leibnizian cosmological argument 24 alexander r. This page serves as an underconstruction bibliography of academic books, chapters, and journal articles. William lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam. Nonetheless, william lane craig, and his sometimes coauthor james sinclair, have brought the orthodox interpretation into question. One approach to answering this question is the cosmological argument. For more than thirty years, william lane craig has vigorously championed the kalam cosmological argument. If you are like me, you have heard william lane craig speak on the kalam for years.
Pruss 3 the kalam cosmological argument 101 william lane craig and james d. The clocks were functioning, thus someone must have set them in motion, even if their winding had been designed to last a long time. I am currently mapping william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god, along with all its supporting arguments, counterarguments, countercounterarguments, and so on. The kalam cosmological argument essay 1100 words cram. The existence of god and the beginning of the universe. The kalam cosmological argument is a 1979 book by the philosopher william lane craig, in which the author offers a contemporary defense of the kalam cosmological argument and argues for the existence of god, with an emphasis on the alleged metaphysical impossibility of an infinite regress of past events. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, 108. It is then argued that the cause of those things existence had to be a godtype thing. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. 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. You have probably heard all the points and probably know them by heart. Pdf we present a formal analysis of the revised version of the kalam cosmo. Kalam cosmological argument research papers academia. I think william lane craigs version of the kalam cosmological argument has several problems, but maybe the most straightforward is that it equivocates on the word universe.
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. British journal for the philosophy of science 29 1978. I aim to defend of version of the kalam cosmological argument that. John mackie, quentin smith, adolf grunbaum and i are just some of the philosophers. Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and theology. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p. Revisiting the kalam cosmological argument bob seidensticker. Craig has updated and defended the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god. William lane craig born august 23, 1949 is an american analytic philosopher and christian theologian, historian, and apologist. Since whatever begins to exist has a cause, there must exist a transcendent. Pdf kalam cosmological argument and the modern science. Or is the material universe all that is, or ever was, or ever will be.