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Polish
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Journal
of Philosophy
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On the Principle of Sufficient Reason
Jacek
Wojtysiak
John Paul II Catholic
University of Lublin
Abstract :
The aim of this paper is to defend the ontological Principle of Sufficient
Reason (PSR-O). I analyse various versions of this principle and various
ways of justifying it. Then I attempt to challenge some counterexamples
allegedly refuting a universal application of the PSR-O. There are
standard and non-standard versions of the PSR-O. The PSR-Ostand can only
be valid if there are no chains of contingent reasons and outcomes with
first modules, i.e. all chains are actually infinite. However, there are
serious arguments against this possibility. The necessary condition of the
PSR-Onon-stand is the existence of a necessary substance: that substance
would be a direct reason of certain contingent states of affairs obtaining
in its domain, and those states of affairs would then be indirect reasons
for all other contingent states of affairs and things. There are two
advantages of the PSR-Onon-stand: a nomological unity of the world and
explanatory simplicity.
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