Kalam and Free Will

[cutupmaster]

The KCA is suppose to establish the existence of a being who freely chose to create the universe into existence. Below, I argue that such a "free" being is precluded if we accept the first premise of the KCA.
1. God created the universe by the act of freely willing it into existence (FWUE) - i.e. he freely chose to bring about an effect without antecedent determining conditions. [Craig's assumption]
2. The act of FWUE either began to exist or it didn't. [premise]
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i. If the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then the act either (a) always existed or (b) it didn't exist at all. [premise]
ii. If (b) is the case--the act of FWUE didn't exist at all-- then (1) is false. [claim]
iii. Therefore, if the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then (b) cannot be the case. (from ii)
iv. If the act of FWUE always existed, then our universe is always being created, which is absurd. [claim]
v. Therefore, if the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then (a) cannot be the case. (from iv)
vi. Therefore, since neither (b) nor (a) are the case, then it is false that the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist. (from i, iii, v)
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3. Therefore, the act of FWUE began to exist. (from vi)
4. The first premise of the KCA states: Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence (where 'cause' is understood as the sufficent determining factor that brings the thing which began to exist into existence). [premise]
5. Therefore, if the first premise of the KCA is true, then the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. (from 3, 4)
6. The cause of the act of FWUE either began to exist or it didn't.
7. [repeat arguments i-vi on 6].
8. Therefore, the cause of the act of FWUE began to exist.
9. Therefore, the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. (from 4, 8)
10. Therefore, the cause of the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. [repeat 6 and 7]
11. Therefore, the cause of the cause of the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. [repeat 6, 7]
12. Ad infinitum... [repeat 6, 7]
13. Therefore, (1) is false: God's willing the universe into existence wasn't free. (from 5-12)

 

[cutupmaster]

Here's a parallel argument, which aims at the incomaptibility between libertarian free will and the KCA more generally.

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence (where 'cause' is understood as the sufficent determining factor which brings the effect into existence). [Kalam premise]
2. An ultimate cause is that which produces an effect but is itself uncaused.
3. If libertarian free will is true, then my choosing to do A (if it's free) is an ultimate cause.
4. My choosing to do A began to exist.
5. Therefore, if (1) is true, then my choosing to do A must have a cause of its existence.
6. However, if libertarian free will is true, then my choosing to do A must be uncaused.
7. Therefore, (1) excludes libertarian free will.

 

[Nathan45]

... nevermind, i misread post... i'll reply again in a second

 

[Nathan45]

Here's a parallel argument, which aims at the incomaptibility between libertarian free will and the KCA more generally.

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence (where 'cause' is understood as the sufficent determining factor which brings the effect into existence). [Kalam premise]
2. An ultimate cause is that which produces an effect but is itself uncaused.
3. If libertarian free will is true, then my choosing to do A (if it's free) is an ultimate cause.
4. My choosing to do A began to exist.
5. Therefore, if (1) is true, then my choosing to do A must have a cause of its existence.
6. However, if libertarian free will is true, then my choosing to do A must be uncaused.
7. Therefore, (1) excludes libertarian free will.

Translating this into english:

If free will exists, then our own arbitrary decisions are an uncaused cause. Interesting observation.

And this conflicts with some philosophy that posits that all uncaused causes always existed.

 

[elman]

The KCA is suppose to establish the existence of a being who freely chose to create the universe into existence. Below, I argue that such a "free" being is precluded if we accept the first premise of the KCA.
1. God created the universe by the act of freely willing it into existence (FWUE) - i.e. he freely chose to bring about an effect without antecedent determining conditions. [Craig's assumption]
2. The act of FWUE either began to exist or it didn't. [premise]
-------------------------------------
i. If the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then the act either (a) always existed or (b) it didn't exist at all. [premise]
ii. If (b) is the case--the act of FWUE didn't exist at all-- then (1) is false. [claim]
iii. Therefore, if the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then (b) cannot be the case. (from ii)
iv. If the act of FWUE always existed, then our universe is always being created, which is absurd. [claim]
v. Therefore, if the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist, then (a) cannot be the case. (from iv)
vi. Therefore, since neither (b) nor (a) are the case, then it is false that the act of FWUE didn't begin to exist. (from i, iii, v)
--------------------------------------------
3. Therefore, the act of FWUE began to exist. (from vi)
4. The first premise of the KCA states: Everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence (where 'cause' is understood as the sufficent determining factor that brings the thing which began to exist into existence). [premise]
5. Therefore, if the first premise of the KCA is true, then the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. (from 3, 4)
6. The cause of the act of FWUE either began to exist or it didn't.
7. [repeat arguments i-vi on 6].
8. Therefore, the cause of the act of FWUE began to exist.
9. Therefore, the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. (from 4, 8)
10. Therefore, the cause of the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. [repeat 6 and 7]
11. Therefore, the cause of the cause of the act of FWUE has a cause of its existence. [repeat 6, 7]
12. Ad infinitum... [repeat 6, 7]
13. Therefore, (1) is false: God's willing the universe into existence wasn't free. (from 5-12)

There are always many causes, not just one.