The First Cause Argument for God's Existence

The first cause argument goes back at least as far as Aristotle and some of the earlier Greek philosophers. This argument holds that one event is the consequence of another, the other by a third, and so on. However, if we ask for a cause of the whole, we are driven again to a First Cause or to the Creator, who must Himself be uncaused. There must be something which stimulates motion, and this something must itself be unmoved, with the qualities of being eternal and having substance and actuality.

Much later, Thomas Aquinas presented the first cause argument in this way: Everything that occurs has a cause, and this cause in turn has a cause, and so on in a series which must either be infinite or have its beginning point in a First Cause. Aquinas leaves out the possibility of an infinite regress of causes. He finally arrives at the concept that there must be a First Cause, which we consider to be God. Thus, Demea in Hume's Dialogues, presents his reasons for believing in the first cause argument for God.

Demea presents his proof of God to Cleanthes and Philo in this manner: "Whatever exists must have a cause or reason of its existence, it being absolutely impossible for anything to produce itself or be the cause of its own existence. In mounting up, therefore, from effects to causes,

. . .
t absurdity in pretending to demonstrate a matter of fact, or to prove it by any arguments a priori. Nothing is demonstrable unless the contrary implies a contradiction. Whatever we conceive as existence, we can also conceive as nonexistent. There is no being, therefore, whose nonexistence implies a contradiction. Consequently, there is no being whose existence is demonstrable. I propose this argument as entirely decisive and am willing to rest the whole controversy upon it" (55). Essentially, Cleanthes is saying that there is no way for a finite human being to prove the existence of an infinite Supreme Being. Even if such a Creator exists, there is no way to know empirically concerning the truth of His existence. God is quite beyond the finite mind of mortal man to grasp and comprehend. Cleanthes goes on to say about cause and effect: "Add to this that in tracing an eternal succession of objects it seems absurd to inquire for a general cause or first author. How can anything that exists from eternity have a cause, since that relation implies a priority in time and a beginning of existence?" (56). Cleanthes is really speaking from Hume's point of view, which holds that when we say that A causes B, we only mean that A
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Infinite Architect, Cleanthes Philo, Cleanthes Cleanthes, Supreme Creator, Natural Religion, Infinite Creator, David Hume, Consequently Demea, Cause Aquinas, God Christian, cause argument, cause effect, argument design, dialogues concerning natural, 57 philo, implies contradiction, cleanthes philo, cause reason, cause cause, ultimate cause, god demea, concerning natural religion,
Approximate Word count = 1419
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

More Essays on The First Cause Argument for God Existence