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A new cosmological argument

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 1999

RICHARD M. GALE  and
ALEXANDER R. PRUSS
RICHARD M. GALE
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
ALEXANDER R. PRUSS
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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Abstract

We present a valid deductive cosmological argument for the necessary existence of a powerful and intelligent creator of the actual universe. Whereas traditional cosmological arguments had to employ a strong version of the principle of sufficient reason that held that every fact actually has an explanation, our argument can make do with the weak version of Duns Scotus according to which every fact possibly has an explanation. As a result, our argument is less vulnerable to the charge of begging the question than are these traditional cosmological arguments.

Type
Research Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 461 - 476
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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