This is just an idea I had inspired by the somewhat limited arguments of Anselm and Aquinas, which seem to contradict each other slightly; if God is the being that than which nothing greater can be conceived, the implication is the God must be infinitely great, so infinity does exist. Therefore, it seems that Aquinas would be wrong in denying the possibility of an infinite regress. — The Curiorist
By its very definition, existence must have a beginning and an end — The Curiorist
There cannot be an infinite regress of existence — The Curiorist
Therefore, it seems that Aquinas would be wrong in denying the possibility of an infinite regress. — The Curiorist
Interesting that Edward Feser, whose Five Proofs of the Existence of God has been the topic of several threads here, accepts that the causal chain can go back infinitely in time. His arguments are quite different. — Mitchell
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Aquinas didn't say an infinite regress was impossible? I thought he actually specifically said that it could not be shown through philosophical argument that the universe came into being due to God's creative act, and that this was a faith-based claim. — darthbarracuda
if God is the being that than which nothing greater can be conceived, the implication is the God must be infinitely great, so infinity does exist. — The Curiorist
I would argue that infinity works on the same principles as an infinite regress. Just as something must have caused the last cause, something greater than the greatest conceivable thing can always be conceived.
Rather than God being the greatest conceivable being, it makes more sense to think of God as the only unconceivable being. — The Curiorist
it makes more sense to think of God as the only unconceivable being. — The Curiorist
i will start with a simple statement .... before you judge it , simply observe the peculiar nature of it all ..
the bible says something along the lines of .... "and he created man in his own image " .....
so god has arms , legs , wears shoes ...definitely shaves ...and I hope he brushes his teeth . — rodrigo
My new definition of God is a being with the ability to imagine everything in the Universe, independent of empirical evidence. Additionally, this is the only predicate that we can truly know about God. — The Curiorist
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