Who Set off the Dominos?
Exploring the Origins of Cause and Effect
The Chain Reaction
Let's start by considering the following scenario:
A designer of dominos places a number of dominos on a table, in a perfect line and within a close distance of each other. The person himself sits behind the table with the index finger of his right hand positioned close to the first domino. With a slight nudge he pushes the first domino, setting off a chain reaction, with each domino pushing the next one. Every piece, from the first to the one before the last, leans on the next one as it pushes it as part of this chain reaction. With the finger of the designer’s left hand now supporting the last piece, none of the dominos fall completely; each piece of the entire set stands slanted against the other, with the last one leaning against the finger of the person behind the table. If he were to pull his supporting finger from the last domino, the entire set would come crashing down.
The Role of the Designer
The person behind the table in this example is the 'creator' of the dominos, who has created them for a particular purpose. He is the one who sets in motion the chain reaction with the support of his right finger, becoming the first cause of that system. He is the one who holds them together in stability on the table with the support of his left finger. All the dominos are contingent and he, solely for the purposes of this example, is akin to the non-contingent entity.
The question, ‘where does the designer fit in the system?’, and ‘who is supporting him, if indeed every unit of the system draws support from the other?’ does not arise here, as the designer is outside the system.
This is precisely how the universe can be described. It has been started off by a powerful, willing Force, who is outside this contingent system, yet is in full control of it. This Force is the First and Primary Cause that triggered the chain reaction of all dependent causes and contingent entities.
As can be inferred from the example of dominos, the question ‘who created the creator?’ becomes redundant. This is because we see only contingent entities around us, all of which depend on other equally contingent entities, the inevitable conclusion being there must be a necessary, non-contingent entity preceding all contingent ones. This non-contingent entity is the First Cause who is outside the dependent realm of time and space.
The Necessary Existence
What is the definition of Necessary Existence?
The Necessary Existence is one which cannot be any other way. It cannot be dependent in any shape, form or manner. It cannot be composed of parts (as parts necessitate dependence). It also needs to be outside of the realm of time and space (as this too implies dependence).
Everything else, aside from the Necessary Existence is a contingent existence, including the universe, as it simply does not fit the bill. The Necessary Existence must have infinite power and energy to have been the creator behind all existence and to remain in continual process of creation. It must be a willing agent for it to have willed entities into existence at a particular point in a continuum. It must be conscious itself for originating consciousness in the first place. It must bear inordinate amount of intelligence for having created all forms of intelligence. It must be wise and good for it to have infused our conscience to intuitively despise and repel evil.
The Problem of Infinite Regress
As we see dependent entities preceding each other, we must logically presume that after a long chain of dependent entities there must be an independent one. Going infinitely backwards with dependent entities results in logical impossibility also known as infinite regress. More precisely, infinite regress is when a phenomenon is explained by tracing its cause backward in an endless chain of events or explanations.
Infinite regress is considered impossible for at least three reasons:
Logical Impossibility: It leads to an infinite chain of causes or explanations, which violates the principles of logic.
Infinite Resources: It requires an infinite supply of resources, whether it’s time, energy, or explanations.
Lack of Explanation: Infinite regress fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for the phenomenon in question. It delays understanding indefinitely, preventing any meaningful conclusion or understanding.
Let’s take an example. Imagine a person (Person A) who seeks to place an order for a product from Person B. However, Person B needs to seek permission from Person C. And Person C, in turn, relies on Person D. And this chain continues infinitely, with each person in the sequence relying on another. The problem here is the order will never get fulfilled.
By the same token, the problem with dependent causes going backwards infinitely is that we would not be here today at our current standpoint.
Infinity, within this contingent universe, aside from existing in the abstract (such as mathematics), has no existence in actual reality.
Is Science Primed for Truth?
Science is certainly not primed for truth. It is primed for the best explanation to create a workable model that benefits humankind.
Let’s look at a few examples:
Ships in ancient times were designed only from wood, as the understanding then was that wood was the only sturdy material that was light enough to float on water. It was believed that anything else, such as metal, would not accommodate the law of flotation. However, despite this skewed understanding of reality, there was obviously no disruption in sea transport, as wooden ships worked just fine until the actual law of floating was discovered. Hence simply because wooden ships continued to fulfil the requirements did not mean the scientific understanding upon which this design was predicated was entirely accurate.
Gravity is another case in point. Gravity, according to Newton, was limited to being a force of attraction between masses. It was much later (thanks to Einstein in the beginning of the 20th century) that our understanding of gravity expanded to include the concept of spacetime curvature. However, regardless of the way gravity was seen, it made absolutely no difference on actual physics. That is because physical science can work just as well with ‘known scientific facts’ and does not need to know the full reality behind things. We relied on the earlier (Newtonian) concept for centuries, and it worked brilliantly well, even though it did not correspond with the complete truth.
Furthermore, owing to its inherent limitations, physical science does not and cannot have the crucial answers that we yearn for so much from a philosophical and spiritual perspective. And the blame for this cannot be laid solely at its door, for such questions are outside of its realm; hence why it is labelled physical and not metaphysical.
In Closing
The chain of contingent entities illustrates the presence of a Transcendent Force, much like the designer guiding the cascade of dominos in the example above. This Necessary Existence serves as the creator and designer of all existence. Since the dilemma of infinite regress highlights the logical constraints of tracing causality endlessly, we are compelled to acknowledge a First Cause preceding all causes; the Independent Entity behind all dependent entities.
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