In Taking God Seriously, agnostic philosopher Michael Ruse objects (rather lightly) to the cosmological argument by noting that denying the existence of God does not imply a contradiction — hence God cannot be logically necessary. However, Ruse admits that “The great philosophers, especially Aquinas, knew this. Hence, for them, there had to be something about God that did make his existence necessary. It might not be logical necessity, but it had to be necessary nonetheless. The term used is 'aseity,’ and the claim is that God’s very essence implies his existence. The $64,000 question is just how God’s essence implies his existence.” (pg. 63 - 64)
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Michael Ruse on The Cosmological Argument
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In Taking God Seriously, agnostic philosopher Michael Ruse objects (rather lightly) to the cosmological argument by noting that denying the existence of God does not imply a contradiction — hence God cannot be logically necessary. However, Ruse admits that “The great philosophers, especially Aquinas, knew this. Hence, for them, there had to be something about God that did make his existence necessary. It might not be logical necessity, but it had to be necessary nonetheless. The term used is 'aseity,’ and the claim is that God’s very essence implies his existence. The $64,000 question is just how God’s essence implies his existence.” (pg. 63 - 64)