Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
We cannot therefore infer an infinite cause, unless the universe
is infinite—which cannot be proved, but can only be assumed—and
this is assuming an infinite in order to prove an infinite. All we
know of the universe is finite. An infinite universe implies
infinite number. But no number can be infinite, for to any number,
however great, a unit can be added, which shows that it was not
infinite before. Here again we see that the most approved forms of
the Cosmological Argument are obliged to avail themselves of the
intuition of the infinite, to supplement the logical process.
_Versus_ Martineau, Study, 1:416—“Though we cannot directly infer
the infinitude of God from a limited creation, indirectly we may
exclude every other position by resort to its unlimited scene of
existence (space).” But this would equally warrant our belief in
the infinitude of our fellow men. Or, it is the argument of Clarke
and Gillespie (see Ontological Argument below). Schiller, Die
Grösse der Welt, seems to hold to a boundless universe. He
represents a tired spirit as seeking the last limit of creation. A
second pilgrim meets him from the spaces beyond with the words:
“Steh! du segelst umsonst,—vor dir Unendlichkeit”—“Hold! thou
journeyest in vain,—before thee is only Infinity.” On the law of
parsimony, see Sir Wm. Hamilton, Discussions, 628.
2. _The value of the Cosmological Argument_, then, is simply this,—it
proves the existence of some cause of the universe indefinitely great.
When we go beyond this and ask whether this cause is a cause of being, or
merely a cause of change, to the universe; whether it is a cause apart
from the universe, or one with it; whether it is an eternal cause, or a
cause dependent upon some other cause; whether it is intelligent or
unintelligent, infinite or finite, one or many,—this argument cannot
assure us.
On the whole argument, see Flint, Theism, 93-130; Mozley, Essays,
Hist. and Theol., 2:414-444; Hedge, Ways of the Spirit, 148-154;
Studien und Kritiken, 1876:9-31.
II. The Teleological Argument, or Argument from Order and Useful
Collocation in Nature.
This is not properly an argument from design to a designer; for that
design implies a designer is simply an identical proposition. It may be
more correctly stated as follows: Order and useful collocation pervading a
system respectively imply intelligence and purpose as the cause of that
order and collocation. Since order and useful collocation pervade the
universe, there must exist an intelligence adequate to the production of
this order, and a will adequate to direct this collocation to useful ends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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