Defenders Podcast Defenders: Excursus on Natural Theology (Part 5): The Argument from Contingency
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May 11, 2022 Dive into the intriguing nature of existence and the arguments surrounding why anything exists at all. Explore the philosophical roots of the argument from contingency through Leibniz's insights. Discover the significance of metaphysically necessary beings in explaining the universe. The discussion also touches on divine concepts and offers literary recommendations for deeper understanding. Plus, get a sneak peek at an upcoming examination of atheistic perspectives on these profound questions.
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Leibnizian Argument From Contingency
- Leibniz's contingency argument asks why there is something rather than nothing and frames a three-premise logical proof that the universe's explanation is God.
- Premise one: every existing thing has an explanation either in its necessity or an external cause; premise two: if the universe has an explanation it is God; premise three: the universe exists.
Boyhood Wonder Led To Leibnizian Question
- Craig recounts his childhood wonder at the night sky as the origin of his lifelong philosophical question: where did all of this come from?
- He links that boyhood question to Leibniz's historic query, why is there something rather than nothing.
Target Premises When Objecting To The Argument
- To reject the conclusion of the Leibnizian argument you must show at least one premise is false; focus critique on premise one or two since premise three (the universe exists) is undeniable.
- Evaluate which premise is more plausibly false rather than accepting the conclusion by default.