Logic and God

Logic and God

Proof that the One Unconditioned Reality is the Continuous Creator of All Else that Is

This argument may be broken down into two steps:

A) the unique, absolutely simple, unrestricted, unconditioned Reality itself must be the Creator of all else that is, and

B) this Creator must continuously create.

The Unique, Absolutely Simple, Unrestricted, Unconditioned Reality Itself is the Creator of all Else that Is

Definitions.

a) “Creation” means the ultimate fulfillment of a conditioned reality’s conditions. The word “ultimate” is used here to differentiate creation from a “proximate cause” (a proximate fulfillment of conditions). For example, the existence and proper structure of a cat’s cells is a proximate fulfillment of the cat’s conditions. Alternatively, “creation” refers to the ultimate fulfillment of the cat’s conditions by the one unconditioned Reality itself. (Recall that every conditioned reality is ultimately dependent on an unconditioned reality for the fulfillment of its conditions; otherwise it would be nothing.

b) “Creator” means the source (power or act) which ultimately fulfills a conditioned reality’s conditions. This source or power is unconditioned Reality itself.

We begin by showing that everything in reality must be a conditioned reality except the one unconditioned Reality itself.

a) In all reality, realities must be either conditioned or unconditioned (complete disjunction).

b) There can be only one unconditioned Reality itself in “all reality” (Unconditioned = all powerful= most powerful. By definition of “most” only one can be most powerful)

c) Therefore, all other realities in “all reality” must be conditioned realities (by disjunctive syllogism).

Conditioned realities cannot have their conditions ultimately fulfilled by conditioned realities alone. Even an infinite number of conditioned realities cannot ultimately fulfill the conditions of conditioned realities. Two conclusions can be drawn from this:

a) For any conditioned reality X, there must always be a most fundamental (last) condition to be fulfilled. Otherwise, a conditioned reality would be dependent for its existence on the fulfillment of an infinite (unfulfillable) number of conditions

b) This most fundamental (last) condition must be fulfilled by the one unconditioned Reality itself. If it were not, this last condition would depend on a “conditioned reality whose conditions were not fulfilled” (i.e., a non-existent – nothing), meaning that all other conditions of contingent reality X would not be fulfilled, meaning, in turn, that conditioned reality X could not exist.

 Since there must be a last condition, and since this last condition must always be fulfilled by an unconditioned reality, and since there can only be one unconditioned Reality itself, and since everything in “all reality” besides the one, unconditioned Reality must be a conditioned reality, then the one, unconditioned Reality must be the Creator (the source of the ultimate fulfillment of conditions) of all else that is real.

The Creator Must Continuously Create all Else that is Real

This may at first appear confusing to those who interpret “creation” as “creatio ex nihilo” (a one-time creation of the universe out of nothing). Though this is a common meaning of “creation,” this argument views “creation” in a broader way as “the ultimate fulfillment of conditions by the unconditioned Reality itself.” Naturally this definition is not in conflict with “creatio ex nihilo,” it simply includes the possibility of the Creator (the source, power, or activity of the ultimate fulfillment of conditions) continuously fulfilling conditions ultimately, and, as it were, “holding or conserving” conditioned realities in being.

No conditioned reality can ever become unconditioned, because there can be only one unconditioned Reality itself.

Therefore, every conditioned reality must be dependent on the unconditioned Reality itself for the ultimate fulfillment of its conditions at every moment that those conditions could cease to be fulfilled.

If the unconditioned Reality itself does not ultimately fulfill the conditions of every conditioned reality at every moment they are dependent on such fulfillment, they would cease to be real. This is sometimes referred to as “radical contingency,” which reflects the radical and continuous dependence of all conditioned realities on the one unconditioned Reality itself.

Therefore, the Creator (the unique, absolutely simple, unrestricted, unconditioned Reality itself) must be a continuous Creator (source of the ultimate fulfillment of conditions) of all else that is real at every moment it could cease to be real (i.e., at every moment of its reality) Analogously speaking, if the Creator stopped “thinking” about us, we would literally lapse into nothingness.

Conclusion

The “unique, absolutely simple, unrestricted, unconditioned Reality itself which is the continuous Creator of all else that is” must exist. This Reality corresponds to what is generally thought to be “God.” God, as defined, must exist.

The denial of the existence of God (as defined) would entail the denial of one’s own existence, or arguing a most fundamental ontological contradiction or an intrinsic contradiction (or all of the above). If these alternatives are considered to be unreasonable or irresponsible (or both), the existence of God should be considered rationally affirmed.

For more detail:  http://magisgodwiki.org/index.php?title=Metaphysical_Proofs