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Single Idea 12566

[from 'Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed)' by John Locke, in 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / a. Cosmological Proof ]

Full Idea

Everyone's certain knowledge assures him that he is something that actually exists. ...Therefore there is some real Being, and since non-entity cannot produce any real being, it is an evident demonstration that from Eternity there has been something.

Gist of Idea

We exist, so there is Being, which requires eternal being

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.10.03)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.620


A Reaction

This is a cosmological proof, deriving God as a necessary precondition from the observation that something exists. It is similar to, but not as good as, Aquinas's Third Way (Idea 1431).

Related Idea

Idea 21271 Way 3: contingent beings eventually vanish, so continuity needs a necessary being [Aquinas]