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My Question is why infinite chain is impossible or infinite regress is impossible is in philosophy? Please give clear step by step easy answer Thank You
Answer : The Numbered Chain Argument To Prove why infinite regress is impossible for contingent beings in philosophy.
1. The chain of contingent beings
Let’s assign numbers to illustrate dependency:
9 → Universe (A)
10 → Water (B)
11 → Humans (C)
Observation:
Humans (11) cannot exist without water (10).
Water (10) cannot exist without the universe (9).
Each step in this chain represents billions of years between the emergence of one contingent being and the next.
2. Contingency of each being
Humans are made of cells, molecules, and atoms — composed of parts and depends on its parts to exist → contingent.
Water is made of H₂O molecules formed from prior stars and planets → contingent.
The universe is made of matter, energy, and space — all contingent, and have a beginning time ~13.8 billion years ago.
Key point: Each dependent being exists only because prior conditions exist.
3. Extending the chain backward
Now imagine the chain extending backward through prior causes:
8 → 7 → 6 → … → 1 → 0
If every being in this chain is contingent and depends on parts to exist and they get parts from a a prior cause which is also depending on parts to exist and waiting for a prior cause to provide them parts, then:
Each is waiting for a prior cause
No being in the chain could exist simultaneously
Nothing would come into existence at all
Just like humans cannot exist without water, water cannot exist before oxygen and oxygen cannot exist before the universe, and the universe cannot exist before space,matter and energy and laws of physics — an infinite regress of dependent beings cannot produce actual existence. so infinite regress is impossible and all these dependent beings need a independent first cause to exist.
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