Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, version 1.

0 September 2014

Summary
Everything we perceive is dependent.
You cannot have an infinite regress of causal
dependencies.
Therefore, there must exist an independent eternal
cause.

Defining Dependent
1. Something is dependent if it is not necessary:
It could have failed to exist or its building blocks could
have been arranged in a different way.

Therefore, there must have been something that determined that

specific arrangement.

2. It requires an explanation for its existence.

3. It exists due to a reliance on something outside of itself.
4. It doesnt exist of its own nature, not self sustaining.
5. Dependent things have limited physical qualities, e.g. colour,
shape, size.

Everything We Perceive is Dependent

Notes
Nothing that we can perceive can survive
independent of other things, there is nothing in our
perception that is self-subsistent.
Everything we perceive depends on something else
for their existence.
Everything we perceive has building blocks that
could have been arranged in another way. Therefore
they must have been determined.
Everything dependent has limited physical qualities.

Possible Conclusions
1. All we perceive depends for its existence on
something else, which in turn depends on
still another thing, ad infinitum.
2. All we perceive exists eternally and is selfsubsisting (dependent on itself).
3. All we perceive derives its existence from
something else that exists by its own nature
and that is accordingly eternal and
independent.

Cant Exist by Itself

Doesnt explain anything!
If it has limited physical qualities and could
have been determined in another way, then
how can it be eternally existing, independent
of other things?!?
If it is dependent on other things for its
existence then it cannot be eternal and exist
by its own accord.

Is this rock eternal?

Even if you didnt not
see it begin or observe
the dependencies
directly
How do we explain it?
Because it has a limited
physical quality: colour,
shape and size etc.
And all things with
limited physical qualities
are dependent.

Causal dependencies
ad infinitum is impossible

Not to be confused with an infinite series of events.

You can apply this to anything

Plastic

Oil

Marine plants
and animals

Necessarily Exists
As for the authors words, He is Eternal
without a beginning, Everlasting without an
end, they explain the meaning of the Divine
names, the First and the LastWho
necessarily exists by Himself in order to
avoid an infinite regress.
Al-'aqidah At-Tahawiyyah. Commentary On The Creed of At-Tahawi. By Ibn Abi
Al 'Izz.

Therefore
All we perceive derives its existence from
something else that exists by its own nature and
that is accordingly eternal and independent.
This is best explained by Allahs existence

He is independent
Everything depends on Him
He sustains everything
He is everlasting
He is self-sufficient

Allah is free/independent
from need of the worlds .
Quran 3:97
= everything that exists

The Universe Exists

Independently?
Some Atheists claim the universe is not dependent and it
exists independently. For instance he/she may argue that
matter or physical stuff is independent.
A quark is an elementary
particle and a fundamental
constituent of matter. Quarks
combine to form composite
particles called hadrons, the
most stable of which
are protons and neutrons, the
components of atomic nuclei.

The universe is made up of matter which is

made up of quarks.
It can be argued that a different collection of
quarks could have existed. Since a different
collection of quarks could have existed instead of
the collection that does exist, it follows that
universe dependent. Because the question follows
what determined this arrangement and not
another one?. It implies a determiner, and the
universe is therefore dependent on the determiner
to determine the arrangement of quarks.

This arrangement of quarks is not necessary. It could have been

another arrangement. Something therefore determined that
arrangement. There is a determiner.

You cannot have an infinite series of determiners. Just like

you cannot have an infinite series of causes. One determiner
cannot gain its determining power from another ad infinitum.

The Universe is just a brute fact

Contention: It doesnt require anything to
depend on. It just is. It is necessary.
Analogy: Consider the hovering golden ball
analogy
Undermines science: there is a field of science
dedicated in trying to explain the universe cosmology. Claiming the universe is just a brute
fact undermines science.

Science will eventually find an

answer!
This is not a scientific question.
Even if we were to posit a multiverse or some type
of scientific explanation, they will still be
dependent. Why?
Because the building blocks of these explanations could
been arranged in a different way. Therefore, they are
dependent as there must have been a determiner that
determined one arrangement over another.

Then he saw the sun rising and

cried, This is my Lord! This is
greater. But when the sun set, he
said, My people, I disown all that
you worship beside God. I have
turned my face as a true believer
towards Him who created the heaves
and the earth. I am not one of the
polytheists. Quran 6:75-79

What About Spiritual

Perspectives?
Reflect on this story

One day I set out to tend my fields, accompanied by my little dog, sworn enemy of the monkeys
which ravaged the plantations. It was the season of great heat. My dog and I were so hot that we could
scarcely breathe. I began to think that one or other of us would soon fall in a faint. Then, thank God, I
saw a Tiayki tree, the branches of which presented a vault of refreshing greenery. My dog gave little
cries of joy and turned towards this blessed shade.
When he had reached the shade, instead of staying where he was, he came back to me, his tongue out.
Seeing how his flanks were palpitating, I realised how completely exhausted he was. I walked towards
the shade. My dog was full of joy. Then, for a moment, I pretended to continue on my way. The poor
beast groaned plaintively, but followed me none the less, his tail between his legs. He was obviously in
despair, but determined to follow me, whatever might come of it. This fidelity moved me profoundly.
How could one fully appreciate the readiness of this animal to follow me, even to death, although he
was under no constraint to do so? He is devoted to me, I said to myself, because he regards me as his
master and so risks his life simply to stay beside me. 'Oh my Lord,' I cried, Heal my troubled soul!
Make my fidelity like that of this being whom I call, contemptuously, a dog. Give me, as You have
given to him, the strength to master my life so that I may accomplish Your will and followwithout
asking, Where am I going?the path upon which You guide me! I am not the creator of this dog, yet
he follows me in docility, at the cost of a thousand sufferings. It is You, Lord, who has gifted him with
this virtue. Give, Oh Lord, to all who ask it of Youas I dothe virtue of Love and the courage of
Charity!' Then I retraced my steps and took refuge in the shade. Full of joy, my little companion lay
down facing me so that his eyes were turned to mine, as though he wished to speak seriously to
me. By G. Eton

Questions?