Change

Definition

Change refers to the process of becoming different, whether in nature, form, or character. In the context of the Cosmological Argument, change is pivotal as it highlights the distinction between contingent beings that depend on something else for their existence and the necessary being that is uncaused and exists independently. Understanding change helps to analyze the existence of the universe and the need for a first cause or an ultimate reason behind existence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In the Cosmological Argument, change emphasizes that everything in the universe is contingent and relies on a necessary being for its existence.
2. Change introduces the concept of temporal events, where things can come into and out of existence over time, thus requiring an explanation for why anything exists at all.
3. Philosophers like Aquinas argue that change in the universe indicates a need for a first cause that itself is not subject to change or contingency.
4. The idea of change is used to argue against an infinite regress of causes, asserting that there must be an ultimate source that initiated all changes.
5. Understanding change helps clarify why philosophical discussions about existence often focus on differentiating between contingent beings and a necessary being.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of change support the argument for a necessary being in the Cosmological Argument?
  • The concept of change supports the argument for a necessary being by illustrating that all things in the universe are contingent and subject to change. Since contingent beings rely on something else for their existence, there must be a foundational cause that is itself uncaused and unchanging. This necessary being serves as the ultimate explanation for why anything exists at all, providing stability amidst constant change.
• Discuss how the notion of contingency relates to change within the framework of the Cosmological Argument.
  • Contingency directly relates to change in that it highlights how all contingent beings are dependent on external causes for their existence. In the framework of the Cosmological Argument, this dependency implies that if everything were contingent without a necessary being, we would face an infinite regress of causes. This situation would ultimately lead to contradictions in our understanding of existence, emphasizing the need for an initial unchanging cause amid all changing contingent realities.
• Evaluate the implications of change on our understanding of causality and existence as presented in the Cosmological Argument.
  • The implications of change on our understanding of causality and existence are profound within the Cosmological Argument. Change raises questions about why things occur and what initiates those changes. If everything is subject to change and reliant on other factors, then there must be a primary cause—an unchanging necessary being—that transcends these contingent changes. This evaluation underscores a fundamental philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence itself, compelling us to consider how change interacts with stability in our understanding of reality.

Related terms

Contingency: The quality of being dependent on external factors for existence; something that does not have to exist and can come into or go out of existence.

Necessary Being: A being that must exist and cannot not exist; often identified as God in philosophical arguments regarding existence.

Causality: The relationship between cause and effect, where one event (the cause) leads to another event (the effect).