The universe is contingent. It might not have existed. Given that it does exist, there must be an explanation for its existence. It must have been caused to exist by some other being. Suppose that this being, too, is contingent. Then it requires an explanation for its existence as well. And so on. Now, either the explanatory chain eventually comes to an end, or it does not. If it does come to an end, the last being in the chain must be self-explanatory. If it goes on ad infinitum, then the entire chain of beings stands in need of an explanation. It must have been caused by some being outside
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