The cosmological argument has relevence to more than just the beginning of the universe. The necessary being to which it refers pervades all points of reality.
So it actually starts with Zeno's paradox. Achilles races to catch a tortoise. The tortoise has a head start. In order to overtake the tortoise, Achilles must travel half the distance from the place he starts. Then he must travel half the distance between where he is and the tortoises new position. Then half of that. Then half of that. In theory, the distance between Achilles and the tortoise shrinks but he never ever quite overtakes it. But he does. Hence the paradox. Achilles and the tortoise serves as a metaphor for the infinite between two points. It can apply to any mathematical interval, including time, the distance between two events.
Now you consider effecient causality in light of Zeno's paradox. Start with one cause, C1, and its effect, E1. Between C1 and E1 lie is a finite interval of time, delta t. If delta t is infinitely divisible then the causal relationship remains incomplete, like this:
C1---> 0.25t ---> 0.325t --->... 0.5t ...0.625 <--- 0.75t <---E1
Or as Hume observed, an infinite series of ever smaller intermediate causes and effects between the C1 and E1, make it impossible for C1 to get to E1. In order to avoid this paradox, there must be a smallest possible finite unit. You can stack small finite units (of time, space, etc.) to fill a finite gap. In physics, you have a smallest possible unit of time, Plank time or tP.
But there is one big problem. What relationship binds each of these Plank units together? Each smallest finite unit of anything exists as a discrete entity for all others. They could be stacked in any random order. It would be like a film strip cut into single frames and taped back together in a different order. Or maybe only one actually exists. After all, what exactly is the past, except a memory in the present. And what is the future except a present unrealized potential. Each instant comes into being and perishes without cause since they depend on nothing outside themselves for their individual existence.
Now, causality, as we understand it means change between states. So if you say that change happens and that change conforms to order (unlike the random filmstrip), in which transcendent formal relationships exist across the smallest finite units. In effect, the cosmological argument implies that the continuity of the universe depends on a causal agent that imposes such a form. Either the physical universe is complete random chaos or it has an inherent order. Take your pick. Either could be true. What you will find however, is that such a transcendent inherent order has many attributes traditionally associated with a monotheistic god.
So it actually starts with Zeno's paradox. Achilles races to catch a tortoise. The tortoise has a head start. In order to overtake the tortoise, Achilles must travel half the distance from the place he starts. Then he must travel half the distance between where he is and the tortoises new position. Then half of that. Then half of that. In theory, the distance between Achilles and the tortoise shrinks but he never ever quite overtakes it. But he does. Hence the paradox. Achilles and the tortoise serves as a metaphor for the infinite between two points. It can apply to any mathematical interval, including time, the distance between two events.
Now you consider effecient causality in light of Zeno's paradox. Start with one cause, C1, and its effect, E1. Between C1 and E1 lie is a finite interval of time, delta t. If delta t is infinitely divisible then the causal relationship remains incomplete, like this:
C1---> 0.25t ---> 0.325t --->... 0.5t ...0.625 <--- 0.75t <---E1
Or as Hume observed, an infinite series of ever smaller intermediate causes and effects between the C1 and E1, make it impossible for C1 to get to E1. In order to avoid this paradox, there must be a smallest possible finite unit. You can stack small finite units (of time, space, etc.) to fill a finite gap. In physics, you have a smallest possible unit of time, Plank time or tP.
But there is one big problem. What relationship binds each of these Plank units together? Each smallest finite unit of anything exists as a discrete entity for all others. They could be stacked in any random order. It would be like a film strip cut into single frames and taped back together in a different order. Or maybe only one actually exists. After all, what exactly is the past, except a memory in the present. And what is the future except a present unrealized potential. Each instant comes into being and perishes without cause since they depend on nothing outside themselves for their individual existence.
Now, causality, as we understand it means change between states. So if you say that change happens and that change conforms to order (unlike the random filmstrip), in which transcendent formal relationships exist across the smallest finite units. In effect, the cosmological argument implies that the continuity of the universe depends on a causal agent that imposes such a form. Either the physical universe is complete random chaos or it has an inherent order. Take your pick. Either could be true. What you will find however, is that such a transcendent inherent order has many attributes traditionally associated with a monotheistic god.
