Jump to content

INFINITE REGRESS


Recommended Posts

Infinite Regress: Definition, Impossibility, and Examples

Definition:
Infinite regress refers to a sequence of reasoning or causation that extends infinitely without a foundational starting point. It typically arises in epistemology, metaphysics, and theology when an explanation depends on an unending chain of prior explanations.

Why It Is Impossible:
Infinite regress is often considered problematic for several reasons:

  1. Epistemic Justification: If every justification depends on a prior one ad infinitum, no belief can ever be fully justified, leading to skepticism.

  2. Causal Explanation: If every cause is preceded by an infinite series of causes, then no effect can ever be realized, contradicting the observed reality of finite causal chains.

  3. Logical Absurdity: Some infinite regresses lead to contradictions or paradoxes, such as the impossibility of completing an infinite sequence in a finite amount of time.

Introductory Role in Arguments for God's Existence:
Infinite regress plays a crucial role in theological arguments for God's existence by demonstrating the necessity of a first, uncaused cause. Classical arguments, such as the cosmological argument, begin by rejecting an infinite regress of causes and instead posit a necessary being (God) to ground all contingent existence. Without this necessary being, the chain of causes would never commence, making existence itself inexplicable.

Examples in Theology:

  1. The Cosmological Argument: The Kalam Cosmological Argument asserts that the universe had a beginning and, since an infinite regress of causes is impossible, there must be an uncaused first cause—God.

  2. Aquinas' Argument from Motion: Thomas Aquinas argued that an infinite regress of movers is impossible; thus, there must be a Prime Mover that itself is unmoved, which he identified as God.

  3. Contingency Argument: Leibniz’s argument from contingency holds that if everything contingent depends on something else, an infinite regress of contingent beings is untenable, requiring a necessary being (God) as the ultimate explanation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...