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The ancient kalam cosmological argument maintains that the series
of past events is finite and that therefore the universe began to
exist. Two recent scientific discoveries have yielded plausible
prima facie physical evidence for the beginning of the universe.
The expansion of the universe points to its beginning-to a Big
Bang-as one retraces the universe's expansion in time. And the
second law of thermodynamics, which implies that the universe's
energy is progressively degrading, suggests that the universe began
with an initial low entropy condition. The kalam cosmological
argument-perhaps the most discussed philosophical argument for
God's existence in recent decades-maintains that whatever begins to
exist must have a cause. And since the universe began to exist,
there must be a transcendent cause of its beginning, a conclusion
which is confirmatory of theism. So this medieval argument for the
finitude of the past has received fresh wind in its sails from
recent scientific discoveries. This collection reviews and assesses
the merits of the latest scientific evidences for the universe's
beginning. It ends with the kalam argument's conclusion that the
universe has a cause-a personal cause with properties of
theological significance.
Did the universe begin to exist? If so, did it have a cause? Or
could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing? These
questions are taken up by the medieval-though
recently-revived-kalam cosmological argument, which has arguably
been the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence
in recent decades. The kalam's line of reasoning maintains that the
series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite.
Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused, there
must be a transcendent cause of the universe's beginning, a
conclusion supportive of theism. This anthology on the
philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past asks: Is an
infinite series of past events metaphysically possible? Should
actual infinites be restricted to theoretical mathematics, or can
an actual infinite exist in the concrete world? These essays by
kalam proponents and detractors engage in lively debate about the
nature of infinity and its conundrums; about frequently-used kalam
argument paradoxes of Tristram Shandy, the Grim Reaper, and
Hilbert's Hotel; and about the infinity of the future.
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