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    A probabilistic argument for a cause of the Big Bang cann... — Carmelics
    Home/Natural Theology
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    A probabilistic argument for a cause of the Big Bang cannot go through.

    Natural Theology
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Probabilistic reasoning requires a reference class of relevantly similar events, but the Big Bang is by definition the singular origin of all physical reality.
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    • 2.Without a well-defined sample space of universe-origination events, no meaningful probability value can be assigned to the claim that the Big Bang had a cause.
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    • 3.Hume's problem of induction entails that causal inference from a single unembedded event lacks the empirical basis required for probabilistic confirmation.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Quantum indeterminacy, as Quentin Smith argues, shows that subatomic events lack sufficient causes, undermining the universal causal principle invoked in cosmological arguments.
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    • 2.If the causal principle is not universally valid even within the universe, extrapolating it probabilistically to the origin of spacetime itself compounds the inferential failure.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • Quantum-mechanical considerations show that the causal proposition is limited in its application, if applicable at all.
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    Topics

    Natural Theology

    Related

    Hume's problem of induction entails that causal inference from a single unembedd...If the causal principle is not universally valid even within the universe, extra...Probabilistic reasoning requires a reference class of relevantly similar events,...Quantum indeterminacy, as Quentin Smith argues, shows that subatomic events lack...
    +2 moreShow less
    Quantum-mechanical considerations show that the causal proposition is limited in...Without a well-defined sample space of universe-origination events, no meaningfu...

    Similar

    A confirmatory probabilistic argument, if successful, establishes a su...76%Pascal's Wager presupposes that one should have a probability for God'...75%A successful confirmatory probabilistic argument may shift the burden ...75%The objection that probabilistic arguments are only of interest when f...74%

    Source

    AI-extracted3/3 agreementValid
    SEP: cosmological-argument
    Smith
    View source passageHide passage
    Thus, we have the contradiction that \(p_1\) both has and does not have an explanation, which is absurd. Hence, no world exists where the BCF lacks an explanation, which is the strong principle of sufficient reason that Gale allegedly circumvented. Since accepting the weak PSR would commit the nontheist to the strong PSR and ultimately to a necessary being, the nontheist has no motivation to accept the weak PSR. Gale and Pruss (2002) subsequently concede that their weak PSR does entail the strong PSR, but they contend that there still is no reason not to proceed with the weak PSR, which they ...
    Extraction notes

    Validity: The passage directly quotes Smith arguing that "quantum-mechanical considerations show that the causal proposition is limited in its application, if applicable at all, and consequently that a probabilistic argument for a cause of the Big Bang cannot go through," which is an attack on the Causal Principle and its application to the Big Bang.

    Confidence: Smith's objection is clearly stated.

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit