What we observe in the universe consists of a network of cause and effects. This network of causes must have an infinite regress of other contingent causes, be self-caused, or have a first non-contingent cause. However, a network of contingent causes cannot go on to infinity. In such a series, the intermediate causes have no power of their own but are mere effects of the preceding causes. For instance, think of a train. Boxcar A is pulled by B, but only because B is pulled by C. Even if the boxcars number to infinity the boxcars don’t move unless a locomotive causes them to move. |