The Leibniz Cosmological Argument

Gottfried Leibniz, philospher, scientist, mathematician and all round genius asked, "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Think about it. If nothing existed, then no answer is required because nothing needs no explanation. But, if something does exist, then some explanation of why it exists is needed.

In response, Leibniz developed a logical principal called the Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) which states that all things have an explanation or cause for their existence.

Thus:
For every entity x, if x exists, then there is a sufficient explanation why x exists.
For every event e, if e occurs, then there is a sufficient explanation why e occurs.
For every proposition p, if p is true, then there is a sufficient explanation why p is true.

Using the PSR, Leibniz posited the following argument for the existence of God:

1. Every existing thing has an explanation of its existence, either in the necessity of its own nature or in an external cause.
2. If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is God.
3. The universe is an existing thing.
4. Therefore the explanation of the universe is God.

Since the universe clearly exists, there must be reason for its existence. Self-causation to explain the Universe's existence is unsupported by the evidence of the Cosmological argument. The cause for the universe, then, must be something other than the universe itself - something external to it.

When used in conjunction with the Comological Argument, Leibniz's argument provides good reason to believe that God is the best explanation for the origin of the Universe.