Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.26362/20200201

A philosophical argument for the beginning of time

Jacobus Erasmus ; School of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, North-West University Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Laureano Luna orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-4084 ; IES “Doctor Francisco Marin”, Siles, Jaén, Spain

Abstract

A common argument in support of a beginning of the universe used by advocates of the kalām cosmological argument (KCA) is the argument against the possibility of an actual infinite, or the “Infinity Argument”. However, it turns out that the Infinity Argument loses some of its force when compared with the achievements of set theory and it brings into question the view that God predetermined an endless future. We therefore defend a new formal argument, based on the nature of time (just as geometrical reasoning is based on the nature of space), which addresses more directly the question of beginningless time.

Keywords

Kalām cosmological argument; predetermined future; Benardete paradox; Yablo paradox; recursive determination rule; normal time; beginningless time

Hrčak ID:

247185

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/247185

Publication date:

3.12.2020.

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