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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
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    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that God's existence needs nothing other than itself — neither a substratum nor an efficient cause — in order for God to exist.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Existence, as Kant argues in the Critique of Pure Reason, is not a real predicate but a logical posit requiring a conceptual framework to be intelligible.
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    • 2.Any claim that an entity 'needs nothing to exist' presupposes the logical category of existence, which is itself a condition external to the entity.
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    • 3.Therefore, God's existence is not fully self-grounding but depends on the logical structure within which existence-claims are made.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Avicenna's own distinction between essence and existence entails that even in a Necessary Existent, existence must be 'added' to essence conceptually.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If existence is conceptually distinguishable from essence even in God, then God's existing requires the actualization of a relationship between two distinct aspects.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A being whose existence involves any internal conceptual dependency cannot be said to need 'nothing other than itself' in an absolute sense.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Analysis of causal chains reveals that God is simple.
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    • 2.God is dependent on no cause.
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    • 3.An existence that requires no substratum and no efficient cause is self-sufficient.
      ?

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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.