If an infinite causal series is possible, the series as a whole may be self-explanatory without requiring an external uncaused terminus, as Russell argued against Copleston in 1948.

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Key Terms

1948 Russell-Copleston debate(as a historical reference): A famous public radio discussion where these two philosophers argued about whether the universe needs a God or first cause to explain its existence.
Copleston(as a historical figure in the debate): Frederick Copleston (1907-1994), a Jesuit philosopher who defended the classical argument that the universe must have a necessary first cause (God).
External uncaused terminus(as used in cosmological arguments): A stopping point outside the chain—something that exists without being caused by anything else, and serves as the ultimate explanation for everything.
Infinite causal series(as used in metaphysics and arguments about existence): A never-ending chain of events where each thing is caused by something before it, stretching back forever with no beginning.

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Russell

# Russell Russell most commonly refers to **Bertrand Russell**, a highly influential British philosopher, logician, and social critic (1872-1970) who fundamentally changed how we think about logic, language, and knowledge. He's famous for showing that common-sense reasoning can contain hidden contradictions and for arguing that philosophy should use the precision of mathematics to solve problems. Russell also became a prominent public intellectual who wrote about everything from religion to nuclear weapons, making him one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century.

If an infinite causal series is possible, the series as a whole may be self-explanatory without requiring an external uncaused terminus, as Russell argued against Copleston in 1948.

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