What is infinite regress fallacy?
The fallacy of Infinite Regress occurs when this habit lulls us into accepting an explanation that turns out to be itterative, that is, the mechanism involved depends upon itself for its own explanation.
Why is infinite regress impossible?
Aquinas taught: It is not possible to regress to infinity in efficient causes. To take away the cause is to take away the effect. If there be no first cause then there will be no others. Therefore, a First Cause exists (and this is God).
What is infinite regress in the cosmological argument?
An infinite regress is an infinite series of entities governed by a recursive principle that determines how each entity in the series depends on or is produced by its predecessor. An infinite regress argument is an argument against a theory based on the fact that this theory leads to an infinite regress.
Is infinite regress possible?
The mere existence of an infinite regress by itself is not a proof for anything. So in addition to connecting the theory to a recursive principle paired with a triggering condition, the argument has to show in which way the resulting regress is vicious.
What are contingent beings?
A contingent being (a being such that if it exists, it could have not-existed) exists. All contingent beings have a sufficient cause of or fully adequate explanation for their existence.
What is the uncaused cause?
1. That which happens spontaneously, unintended and uninitiated. adjective. (philosophy) Since all things must come from something that causes them the uncaused cause is that one thing that began the chain of existance, often identified as God. adjective.
Is an infinite regress absurd?
For Aristotle, infinite regression presents as something absurd. Since there cannot be a cause that caused its self, we either accept vicious circularity or some being that is infinite in nature.
What does the author mean by the term infinite regress or vicious circle in this passage?
The author states that matters of fact and principles of inference must not be known in terms of evidence or evidence should not be used to support matters of fact and principles of inference.
Can there be an infinite past?
Since there’s no negative infinite number, there’s no infinitely past year or earliest year. There never was a time when the past became infinite because no set can become infinite by adding any finite number of members. So, if the past is infinite, then it has always been infinite.
What is an infinite regress fallacy?
An infinite regress or homunculus fallacy is when an argument relies on a series of never-ending propositions, where the validity of one proposition depends on the validity of the one which follows and/or precedes it.
What is infiniinfinite regress?
Infinite regress is akin to the optical phenomenon wherein an infinite sequence of receding images is formed between two parallel facing mirrors.
What is the difference between circularity and infinite regress?
The infinite regress is a close sibling of circularity, wherein the premises provide support for the conclusion, which in turn provides support for said premises to begin with, which in turn….
What is the homunculus fallacy?
—The Siphonaptera poem by Augustus De Morgan. An infinite regress or homunculus fallacy is when an argument relies on a series of never-ending propositions, where the validity of one proposition depends on the validity of the one which follows and/or precedes it.