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“I think that there are very good arguments to believe that there are some kind of foundational principle of the universe, some necessarily existing being, some first cause.”
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Instead of treating belief as a private preference, philosopher Alex O’Connor examines how our moral positions shape institutions, obligations, and the ways we justify our choices.
His arguments invite a closer look at why we hold certain principles, and whether those principles survive contact with their real-world consequences.
00:00 The lure of meaning
01:15 The strongest arguments for and against the existence of God
03:38 Hierarchical causes and borrowed causal power
06:33 Sustaining causes and necessity of foundation
10:04 How classical thinkers framed the first cause
14:27 Suffering as the challenge to God
17:42 Between classical theism, deism, and atheism
20:58 Understanding nihilism and the human condition
24:36 Self-justifying motives and meaning
28:00 Meaning in a materialist world
31:41 Ecclesiastes and the first nihilist
36:38 Why stories explain what logic can’t
48:55 Emotion’s grip on belief
54:20 How emotivism shapes ethics
1:05:18 Where morality meets emotion
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/first-cause-argument/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Alex O’Connor:
Alex O’Connor, also known as Cosmic Skeptic, is an English public speaker and content creator recognized for his work on philosophy, ethics, religion, and secularism. He hosts the podcast Within Reason
