first-cause argument: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Philosophical
Quick answer
What does “first-cause argument” mean?
A philosophical argument for the existence of God, positing that everything must have a cause, and therefore the universe must have a first, uncaused cause (God).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A philosophical argument for the existence of God, positing that everything must have a cause, and therefore the universe must have a first, uncaused cause (God).
In broader contexts, any line of reasoning that attempts to trace a chain of causality back to an ultimate, foundational source or origin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties, with no spelling or grammatical divergence.
Connotations
Carries a strong, specific connotation of classical philosophy and theology. May be viewed as a technical or historical term.
Frequency
Exclusively high-level academic/philosophical usage. Extremely rare in general discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “first-cause argument” in a Sentence
The philosopher advanced a [first-cause argument].A central tenet is the [first-cause argument].They critiqued the [first-cause argument] for its premise.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first-cause argument” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He presented a first-cause argument for theism.
- The first-cause reasoning was complex.
American English
- She critiqued the first-cause argument thoroughly.
- First-cause logic is central to the debate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and theology courses and literature.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific to philosophical discourse and apologetics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first-cause argument”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first-cause argument”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first-cause argument”
- Incorrect article: 'the first-cause argument' (correct), not 'a first-cause argument' (unless introducing one of several).
- Incorrect hyphenation/space: 'first cause argument' (less common) or 'first-cause argument' (standard compound modifier).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Thomas Aquinas (13th century) is one of its most famous proponents, synthesising Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology in his 'Five Ways'.
A common rebuttal is the 'who created God?' objection, or the assertion that the universe itself might be the uncaused, necessary entity.
No. Intelligent design argues from perceived order and complexity (teleological argument). The first-cause argument argues strictly from the principle of causation (cosmological argument).
Rarely, but it can be used metaphorically in discussions about history or science to denote the search for an ultimate origin, e.g., 'the first-cause argument in cosmology'.
A philosophical argument for the existence of God, positing that everything must have a cause, and therefore the universe must have a first, uncaused cause (God).
First-cause argument is usually formal, academic, philosophical in register.
First-cause argument: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈkɔːz ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˈkɑːz ˈɑːrɡjʊmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ROW of dominoes. The FIRST one to fall CAUSED all the others. The FIRST-CAUSE argument asks: 'What pushed the very first domino?'
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAIN IS CAUSALITY (The universe is a causal chain; the first cause is the first link/anchor). SOURCE IS ORIGIN (The 'first cause' is the ultimate source/spring from which everything flows).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary domain of the term 'first-cause argument'?