Du Chatelet Argument For The Existence Of God Essay

Du Chatelet argument for the existence of God is a cosmological argument: 1. Something exists. 2. Since something exists, something must have existed from eternity. 3. Either an infinite chain of (contingent) beings existed from all eternity or being that exists by its own volition. 4. Even an infinite chain of contingent beings might not have existed and therefore does not explain for the existence of the world. 5. Therefore, only a necessary being can explain the existence of the world. Du Chatalet begins her cosmological argument by stating a base assumption that something exists because I exist. From this foundation, du Chatalet argues that, because something exists, that something must have existed eternally. If this is not the case, then that something would have sprung forth from nothing, which is a contradiction in terms [Ex Nihilos Nihil Fit]. The something which has existed eternally cannot owe its existence to an external cause, for if that something was created by something else, then it would follow that this chain would continue on ad infinitum. For everything in that infinite chain would owe its existence to something else. As this chain of beings would culminate into being produced by nothing, which is again a contradiction in terms, it follows that the being which exists without cause must be God. Therefore, God must exist; to argue otherwise would be a contradiction. Du Chatalet believed in the interconnected nature of everything, all stemming eitherShow MoreRelatedMWDS Candide4817 Words   |  20 Pagesspecifically the concept of a constitutional monarchy and support for the freedoms of speech and religion, as well as the works of Shakespeare and Isaac Newton. He later returned to France, moving into a new home, Chateau de Cirey, with his wife, Emilie du Chatelet. The relationship between the two was highly intellectual, as they were both deeply intrigued by history, philosophy, and Newtonian physics. Greatly influenced by his earlier stay in England, Voltaire began to develop some of the ideas for which