Saturday, December 22, 2012

A Revised Version of the Third Way

Thanks to my friend, Walter, I've been able to alter the Third Way in such a manner that atheists might be more inclined to accept it.  Here's the argument:

1. Something cannot come from nothing. (Premise)

2. Something presently exists. (Premise)

3. Hence, there was never a past time at which nothing existed. (From 1 and 2)

4. Either everything that exists is destructible, or else there exists at least one indestructible entity. (Premise)

5. The past is infinite. (Assumption)

6. Given infinite time, all potentialities will have been actualized. (Premise)

7. The concurrent non-existence of all destructible entities is a potentiality. (Premise)

8. Hence, there was a time in the past at which nothing destructible existed. (From 5 - 7)

9. Therefore, at least one indestructible entity exists. (From 3, 4 and 8)

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