http://religiousapriori.blogspot.com/20 ... tatus.html
If you read the link it looks real pretty. To be handy for discussion here is the argument.
Terms:
Argument
(1) the connection between empirical and synthetic is that phenomena which ground synthetic statements are based upon cosmologically derivedphenomena: they are involved in a cause and effect relationship which may also overlap with intervening variables, such that if we change the conditions that produced a phenomenon the phenomenon would not be as such.
(2) when we ask "why are we here?" meaning why is there a world and how did it get here we can't answer this question by appealing to cosmologically derived phenomena because that only puts the process of cosmic evolution back one step. It doesn't explain the how or the why of it.
(3) We have no examples of phenomena springing forth form total absolute nothing; all phenomena that we know of in the natural world is cosmologically derived.[1]
(4) The idea of an eternal cosmologically primary aspect of "existence* is a better answer than an appeal to naturalistic means because all naturalistic means is cosmologically derived.
(5) The theistic as well as the super essential PanENtheistic aspect of existence related phenomena* is cosmologically primary.
(6) The verbiage in 7 pertains to "God" as understood in the works of Paul Tillich, Hans Urs Von Balthasar and Dionysus the Areiopagite thus "God" in this sense is the more efficacious explanation than naturalistic phenomena.
*what Paul Tillich means by "being."
This is a new version of the Argument my old cosmological necessity argument. I've changed the terms "necessity/contingency" because they are just easily muddled.
Definition Terms:
(1) God
God is beyond our understanding, as the Bible says, but we can leave a "place marker" for the concept of God by understanding that the ultimate logical function of the God concept is that of the transcendental signifier. I tend to think about God in terms of Paul Tillich's ground of being. For the purposes of God argument I use a list of attributes to keep it simple, but all are implied in this statement: The eternal and necessary foundational aspect of all being which creates all things and chooses to do so
is compatible with the definition of "God" found in any many major world religions, including Christianity.
Divine attributes:
eternal
necessary (ontologically)
ground of being
2, cosmologically derived phenomena: they are involved in a cause and effect relationship which may also overlap with intervening variables, such that if we change the conditions that produced a phenomenon the phenomenon would not be as such.
3. Cosmologically primary related to the cosmos as a higher framework beyond event horizon, yet capable of interacting, eternal, not derived not dependent upon any other source of existence.
4, Naturalistic: Of or pertaining to the realm of life from life; the process through which biological life, and/or the conditions suited to maintain it come to be. This includes non organic matter such as energy, solids, gases and so forth.