Argument From Change

What is Standard Argument Form?

 

The standard form of an argument is a way of presenting the argument which makes clear which are premises, how many premises there are and which proposition is the conclusion. In standard form, the conclusion of the argument is listed last.

 

In a standard argument, you must have at least one premise and only one conclusion. 

 

 

P  = Premise (add a number with each premise you add such as P3, it is your third premise). These are your reasons for your conclusion.

 

SC = Sub conclusion (use this if you need to make a conclusion in something else before the main conclusion of the arguement. Usually, this is only done if another conclusion needs to be made to get to the final conclusion).

 

C = Conclusion (This is the concluding result of your premises, this is your last statement that determines the result of the arguement).

 

Why does Standard Argumentation Matter?

 

It matters because this is the standard way widely accepted by the world as the structure and form for an academic argument. For many of the arguments that directly deal with reason, this format will  be used to show the unity with current academic tradition and christian apologetics. 

 

From Change

 

P1: Things do not change on their own. They need an outside source or sources as interference to cause change.

 

P2: If there is nothing outside of the material universe, then nothing can cause the universe to change.

 

P3: The universe being the total sum of matter, space, and time; does change.

 

P4: Thinking of each proponent of change as a ladder going up in a series, eventually the ladder will arrive at the top.

 

P5: The item causing change at the top of the ladder must be an unchanging item, this item must be immutable.

 

C: Since the only item outside of the universe that is known to be immutable is God, God exists.

 

Sources: Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli