Summary Of Richard Taylor's Cosmological Argument
This paper will seek to summarize and analyze Richard Taylor's "cosmological argument." In the cosmological argument as presented by Richard Taylor he states that there is an explanation behind everything regardless of whether it is teleological or not, and that the universe requires an explanation. This is known principle of sufficient reason.
In his argument he states:
“-there is some explanation for the existence of anything whatever, some reason why it should exist rather than not. The sheer nonexistence of anything, which is not to be confused with the passing out of existence of something, never requires a reason; but existence does.” (Taylor, page 1)
In this quote the idea that although an explanation is needed when something comes …show more content…
“A geologist does not suppose that he has explained why there should be rivers and mountains merely by pointing out that they are old.” (Taylor page, 3) When Taylor says this, he is arguing that simply analyzing how long something has been here does not get to the question of why exactly it is here.
One may argue that the world is eternal and has always been in existence and that is doesn't have a beginning however Taylor rebuttals this with acknowledging that although this might be true a world without a beginning still requires an explanation.
“But still, it can be asked why there is a world, why indeed there is a beginningless world, why there should have perhaps always been something rather than nothing. And, if the principle of sufficient reason is a good principle, there must be an answer to that
In his argument he states:
“-there is some explanation for the existence of anything whatever, some reason why it should exist rather than not. The sheer nonexistence of anything, which is not to be confused with the passing out of existence of something, never requires a reason; but existence does.” (Taylor, page 1)
In this quote the idea that although an explanation is needed when something comes …show more content…
“A geologist does not suppose that he has explained why there should be rivers and mountains merely by pointing out that they are old.” (Taylor page, 3) When Taylor says this, he is arguing that simply analyzing how long something has been here does not get to the question of why exactly it is here.
One may argue that the world is eternal and has always been in existence and that is doesn't have a beginning however Taylor rebuttals this with acknowledging that although this might be true a world without a beginning still requires an explanation.
“But still, it can be asked why there is a world, why indeed there is a beginningless world, why there should have perhaps always been something rather than nothing. And, if the principle of sufficient reason is a good principle, there must be an answer to that