Everything that exists has a reason to exist

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Parent debateThis argument is used in the debate Does God exist?.
Argument forThis argument is a justification of God is the first cause of the universe.
Keywords: Cosmological argument, First cause, God, Sufficient reason[ edit ].

SummarySummary

Nothing happens without a reason. For everything, there is a sufficient reason that accounts for it. An intelligent God calculates all possible worlds and then chooses the best one.

QuotationsQuotes

“Now we need to move on to metaphysics, using the great principle, not commonly used, that nothing happens without sufficient reason; that is, nothing happens without it being possible for someone who knows enough about things to give a reason sufficient to determine why it is so, and not otherwise. Once this principle has been established, the first question we are entitled to ask is: Why is there something rather than nothing? For nothing is simpler and easier than something. Moreover, supposing that things must exist, we must be able to give a reason why they must exist in this way, and not otherwise. Now, this sufficient reason for the existence of the universe cannot be found in the succession of contingent things, i.e. bodies and their representations in souls; because matter being indifferent in itself to motion and rest, and to such and such a motion, we cannot find in it the reason for motion, and still less for such a motion. And even though the present movement in matter comes from the previous one, and this one from a previous one, we are no further ahead, if we go as far as we like; for the same question always remains. Thus, it is necessary that the sufficient reason, which no longer needs another reason, be outside this sequence of contingent things, and be found in a substance which is their cause, and which is a necessary being, carrying the reason for its existence with itself; otherwise we would not yet have a sufficient reason where we could end. And this last reason for things is called God.”

ReferencesReferences

Arguments forJustifications

Arguments againstObjections

  • Argument againstThe fact that everything has a reason to exist doesn't prove that God is that same reason.
  • Argument againstThen God must have a reason to exist, otherwise he would be the first cause.

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