The First Cause Argument
Summary
The Design Argument and its variant the Fine Tuning Argument are based on direct observation of the world. As such they are what philosophers call empirical arguments.
In contrast, the First Cause Argument, sometimes known as the Cosmological Argument, relies only on the empirical fact that the universe exists.
The First Cause Argument states that absolutely everything has been caused by something else prior to it - nothing has just sprung into existence without a cause. Because we know that the universe exists, we can safely assume that a whole series of causes and effects led to its being as it is. If we follow this series back we will find an original cause. This first cause, so the First Cause Argument tells us, is God.
However, as with the Design Argument, there are a number of criticisms of this argument.
