(A Version Of) The Cosmological Argument

Ultimately a denial of the "Cosmological Argument" entails either 1.) a denial of one or both undeniable premises by which we know anything at all and by which we actually live, or 2.) a denial of the conclusion(s), which simply combine(s) these premises.

1. A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time in the same way - a thing is or is not (principle of non-contradiction). Simplified: If a thing exists it doesn't not exist.

2. Existing things change - things have potential to be or not be.

3. A thing which has potential, which can be or not be at a particular moment, a.) cannot determine itself to be or not be at a particular moment (or it is violating premise 1, both being and not being at the same time in the same way); it cannot choose it's own path, therefore something must determine it to be or not be or it hasn't been determined-which we know it has; b.) cannot be determined by nothing, for if nothing determined it, then it's the nature of nothing to make determinations; if nothing has a nature, then it's something, and something has determined it--that something must have no potential, it cannot not be; and c.) cannot be determined by another thing with potential, for at the same moment that thing also needs determination.

Additional Conclusion from 3:

4. The universe (a collection of things with potential) can be or not be at a particular moment, therefore it is determined by something which cannot not be (God is the name we give to a being which cannot not be).

OR

1. A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time in the same way - a thing is or is not (principle of non-contradiction). Simplified: If a thing exists it doesn't not exist.

2. Existing things change - things have potential to be or not be.

3. A thing which has potential, which can be or not be at a particular moment, needs a cause to determine whether it will be or not be *.

4. The cause itself (from #3) must not have potential to be or not be, otherwise it’s in the same undetermined state needing to be caused and cannot cause anything.

5. Since every thing with potential existing at a given moment (the universe) can be or not be, then everything (the universe) with potential to be or not be needs a cause at every moment of it’s existence.

6. Something exists which cannot not be, as the cause of existing things which change -- the universe.

*Something is self-evident when it’s opposite cannot be conceived. “Something which changes needs a cause”—this is self evident because it’s opposite -- nothing can cause something -- means the nature of nothing is to cause something, which is another way of saying nothing is something (we have to conceive of nothing as something (it’s nature is to cause)). Therefore we cannot conceive of nothing causing something without admitting it’s something. Thus it’s self evident that “things which change need a cause.”