The Weaknesses of the Cosmological or First Cause Argument

The Cosmological or First Cause argument revolves around the concept of cause and effect in the universe. According to this argument, every effect must have a cause, and if the universe came into existence, it must have been caused by something. This often leads to the conclusion that there must be an uncaused cause, which many argue is God. However, this argument is not without its weaknesses.

Universes without Beginnings

One of the main objections to the Cosmological Argument is the idea that the universe may not have had a beginning. In other words, the universe has always existed in some form. This idea challenges the necessity of a first cause, suggesting that the universe could have caused itself or exist without having been caused by anything external. This view is supported by the Big Bang Theory, which posits that the universe began from a singularity but does not necessarily require a prior cause outside the universe.

Special Pleading and the General Assumption of Cause and Effect

Another critical objection to the Cosmological Argument is the notion of special pleading. If the universe is caused, why is this case an exception to the general assumption that everything requires a cause? The argument that explains everything in terms of cause and effect except the universe itself seems arbitrary and inconsistent. This objection highlights the hypocrisy in not applying the same causal reasoning to everything, including the supposed first cause.

Infinite Regress and the First Cause

A third objection involves the idea of an infinite regress. Critics argue that an infinite series of causes could exist without necessitating a first cause. If we can accept an infinite series of causes and effects, why must we necessarily postulate a first uncaused cause? The idea of infinite regress is often dismissed as absurd, but what is the argument against it? This objection challenges the intuitive notion that there must be a first cause and suggests that the existence of an infinite regress is a valid alternative.

The Influence of Personal Beliefs

My father, a preacher, once posed a question to my six-year-old son: 'Who created the universe?' My son's response, 'the Big Bang,' highlighted the weakness of the Cosmological Argument in Natural Theology, proposed by Thomas Aquinas, Plato, and others. If we live in a world of cause and effect, the first cause is often identified as God, and the effect is the cosmos. However, the hypothesis of a first cause or singularity is unproven and unprovable, and it does not necessarily allow us to infer a theistic god.

The Cause of God

A major weakness of the Cosmological Argument is its own lack of answers. If everything requires a cause, then God must also have a cause. This leads to the question: What caused God? If God is the first cause, then this negates the argument that everything must have a cause. If the argument for a first cause no longer holds, then the need for a god becomes redundant.

Thus, the Cosmological Argument faces several challenges and objections, questioning the necessity of a first cause and the consistency of its reasoning. While it presents an elegant and intuitive framework, it remains a topic of debate among philosophers, theologians, and scientists alike.