Single Idea 14018

[catalogued under 2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 2. Sufficient Reason]

Full Idea

Mackie (1983) dismisses the Principle of Sufficient Reason quickly, arguing that it is self-refuting: there is no sufficient reason to accept it. However, a principle is not invalidated by not applying to itself; it can be a powerful heuristic tool.

Gist of Idea

Is Sufficient Reason self-refuting (no reason to accept it!), or is it a legitimate explanatory tool?

Source

Craig Bourne (A Future for Presentism [2006], 6.VI)

Book Reference

Bourne,Craig: 'A Future for Presentism' [OUP 2006], p.180


A Reaction

If God was entirely rational, and created everything, that would be a sufficient reason to accept the principle. You would never, though, get to the reason why God was entirely rational. Something will always elude the principle.