Craigs book, the kalam cosmological argument, is essential reading for anyone interested in this controversial, but highly compelling, argument for the existence of god. The kalam cosmological argument is a 1979 book by william lane craig, in which the author offers a contemporary defense of the kalam cosmological argument and purports to establish the existence of god based upon the alleged metaphysical impossibility of an infinite regress of past events. The starting point for lanes argument is that he believes the first premise is selfevident. Then the author provides his own formulation of the arguments, which makes up most of the book. This argument is over a thousand years old, but instead of tracing the argument. The kalam cosmological argument, volume 1 bloomsbury. First, craig argues that the universe began to exist, using two philosophical and two scientific arguments.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. I will do this by quoting extensively from my recent book. In closing, i find it strange for an atheist to appeal to aristotelian metaphysics to undermine the kalam cosmological argument. The cosmological kalam argument this is a favourite of dr. Admittedly, i have not read this book myself, so its not quite clear to me how it differs from alghazalis original proposition. William lane craig has popularized an argument that draws from both philosophy and mainstream science known as the kalam cosmological argument. Today this argument, largely forgotten since the time of kant, is once again back at center stage. Reading religion the best possible collection on the kalam cosmological argument one could wish for.
The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig. Moreover, alexander pruss has just released a book called infinity, causation, and paradox which i think is probably the most important modern book written on the kalam cosmological argument. Kalam cosmological argument william lane craig palgrave. The kalam cosmological argument is one of the variants of the cosmological argument and had been used to defend the philosophical position of theistic worldviews,2018.
This is the third and final round of destroying the kalam cosmological argument tim stratton has responded to four arguments in round 1 and four in round 2, surviving by the skin of his teeth. This book it well laid out, its my first attempt to understand kalam cosmological arguments. The most simple criticism of the kalam cosmological argument. Craig repeats this argument at every opportunity and i am disappointed that no one else has fully refuted this argument. What is the conclusion of the kalam cosmological argument. The argument stems from from a line of argument proposed by early islamic philosophers hence kalam in the book title.
Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused. It seeks to prove that god was the first cause of the universe. It was popularized by william lane craig in his book, the kalam cosmological argument 1979. Parts of it are so mathematically complex that you would need to be a trained mathematician to understand them. The kalam cosmological argument was originally put forth by a twelfthcentury medieval muslim philosopher from persia modern day iran by the name of abu hamid muhammad ibn muhammad alghazali. 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. The kalam cosmological argument for god book, 2007. The kalam cosmological argument may be formulated as follows. Because of its historic roots in medieval islamic theology, i christened the argument the kalam cosmological argument kalam is the arabic word for medieval theology. Destroying the kalam cosmological argument round 3. In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. These questions are taken up by the medievalthough recentlyrevivedkalam cosmological argument, which has arguably been the most discussed philosophical argument for gods existence in recent decades. This argument or proof proceeds from a consideration of the existence and order of the universe.
Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and. The kalam cosmological argument is one of the most popular cosmological arguments around today. Heres the kalam cosmological argument as rendered deductively by craig see included links for details. The author explained the argument given by these philosophers and a bit of history around them as well. The god of the kalam cosmological argument mount st. David hume was perhaps more right than he could have known when he wrote of the human minds proneness to associate cause with effect regardless of whether it has a rational basis for doing so which it ultimately does not. Developed a modern version of the argument in his book, the kalam cosmological argument. Over the years many different versions of it have been presented. It was popularized by william lane craig in his book, the kalam cosmological argument. The best possible collection on the kalam cosmological argument one could wish for. Reviews the two volumes of copans the kalam cosmological argument, without a doubt, constitute an excellent collection of essays that for years to come will be the place to start for those interested in a profound analysis of the problems and merits of the kalam cosmological argument. The kalam cosmological argument, volume 2 book depository.
Due to the influence of william lane craig analytic philosopher, christian apologist, champion of philoponuss position, and author of the kalam cosmological argument this argument and the family of subarguments that support it have come to be known as the kalam cosmological argument kca. The argument appeals to both philosophical and scientific evidence for the beginning of the universe. The kalam cosmological argument perhaps the most discussed philosophical argument for gods existence in recent decadesmaintains that whatever begins to exist must have a cause. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god.
The two volumes of the kalam cosmological argument contain twentynine essays of high quality that are divided into three parts, each of which critically examines a central premise of the kalam cosmological argument by analyzing the philosophical and scientific evidence for and against its truth. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. The kalam cosmological argument library of philosophy and. These questions are taken up by the medievalthough recentlyrevived kalam. Firstly, hume criticized a version of the cosmological argument presented by his character demea in dialogues concerning natural religion 1779 book ix. The kalam cosmological argument the curious atheist. Mark r nowacki approximately 1500 years ago john philoponus proposed a simple and compelling argument for the existence of god. Or could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing. I the other philosophical argument o ered in defense of premise 2 is that there cannot be an actual in nite in the world, merely a potential in nite.
It argues that, since the versions of thekalam cosmological argument defended by philoponus c. Ive read the book cover to cover twice and still processing some of it but with a copious amount of references, it acts as a great launchpad to wider works, especially those which are in arabic and generally not available. How to debunk the kalam cosmological argument the original kalam cosmological argument was developed by islamic scholars in medieval times based on the aristotelian prime mover idea. But here are four last objections that will own him for sure. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Kalam cosmological argument bibliography philpapers. If the kalam is sound, it seems to prove the existence of god. A beginners guide to the kalam cosmological argument. The kalam cosmological argument, volume 1 ebook by. In recent years, the argument has gained a new face. Bevaka the kalam cosmological argument sa far du ett mejl nar boken gar att kopa igen. I am going to talk about another issue with the kalam cosmological argument, as presented by apologist william lane craig.
Alghazali was concerned by the influence of greek philosophy which maintained a beginningless universe one which flows necessarily out of god on. The contributors to the book, who represent some of the most profound. It argues that, since the versions of the kalam cosmological argument defended by philoponus c. This paper is concerned with the kalam cosmological argument, which aims to demonstrate that the universe was created ex nihilo by a personal creator. Even if we grant, for the sake of argument, that this allows him to avoid the conclusion of the kca, he has just given credence to different arguments for gods existence e. Cleanthes points out that there is no support for the claim that everything in the universe is moves and is moved, caused and is caused or is contingent. The cosmological argument is, a family of arguments that seek to demonstrate the existence of a sufficient reason or first cause of the existence of the cosmos.
This book offers a discussion of the kalam cosmological argument, and presents a defence of a version of that argument after critically evaluating three of the most important versions of the argument. This popular argument for the existence of god is most commonly known as the cosmological argument. The kalams line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite. This book offers a discussion of the kalam cosmological argument, and presents a defence of a version of that argument after critically evaluating three of the. The kalam cosmological argument flashcards quizlet. This book offers a discussion of thekalam cosmological argument, and presents a defence of a version of that argument after critically evaluating three of the most important versions of the argument. Aquinas cosmological argument proves that god exists. Kalam cosmological arguments and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. How to debunk the kalam cosmological argument debating. 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. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig book. The cosmological argument is probably the most popular of the theological existence proofs. Craigs book, the kalam cosmological argument, is essential reading for anyone interested in this controversial, but highly compelling, argument for the. The argument is fairly straightforward and enjoys intuitive support.
William lane craig is famous for resurrecting and defending the kalam cosmological argument kca. The kalam cosmological argument 1979 talks about the existence of the universe in terms of being either a. He published a book named the kalam cosmological argument in 1979 which caused alghazalis old ideas to resurface. Premise 1 seems obviously trueat the least, more so than its negation.
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