Infinite regress
Infinite regress is a philosophical concept to describe a series of entities. Each entity in the series depends on its predecessor, following a recursive principle. For example, the epistemic regress is a series of beliefs in which the justification of each belief depends on the justification of the belief that comes before it.
An infinite regress argument is an argument against a theory based on the fact that this theory leads to an infinite regress. For such an argument to be successful, it must demonstrate not just that the theory in question entails an infinite regress but also that this regress is vicious. There are different ways in which a regress can be vicious. The most serious form of viciousness involves a contradiction in the form of metaphysical impossibility. Other forms occur when the infinite regress is responsible for the theory in question being implausible or for its failure to solve the problem it was formulated to solve.
Traditionally, it was often assumed without much argument that each infinite regress is vicious but this assumption has been put into question in contemporary philosophy. While some philosophers have explicitly defended theories with infinite regresses, the more common strategy has been to reformulate the theory in question in a way that avoids the regress. One such strategy is foundationalism, which posits that there is a first element in the series from which all the other elements arise but which is not itself explained this way. Another way is coherentism, which is based on a holistic explanation that usually sees the entities in question not as a linear series but as an interconnected network.
Infinite regress arguments have been made in various areas of philosophy. Famous examples include the cosmological argument and Bradley’s regress.
An infinite regress is a sequence of dependent things or reasons where each thing requires another, and so on, without end, creating an explanatory chain that lacks a starting or fundamental point. In philosophy, this is often seen as a problem because an unending series of justifications or causes cannot provide a truly valid or ultimate explanation or foundation. Examples include an endless chain of causes for the universe, or the Münchhausen trilemma in epistemology, where any justification for a belief requires further justification, leading to an unending chain of reasons.
How it works
- A chain of dependence: An infinite regress involves a series where each item depends on the one before it.
- No starting point: Unlike a finite chain that ends with a fundamental or self-evident element, an infinite regress has no such beginning.
- Lack of ultimate justification: Because there is no final ground or first cause, an explanation based on an infinite regress is often considered unsatisfactory or a logical fallacy.
Examples
- Cosmological Argument: The question “What caused the universe?” might lead to an infinite regress if each preceding universe caused the next, with no first, original cause.
- Epistemology (Justification of Knowledge): The problem of the criterion describes a situation where to know something is true, you must first know that your criteria for truth are themselves true. To know your criteria are true, you must use other criteria, leading to an infinite chain of criteria and no ultimate way to establish any truth.
- “Turtles All the Way Down”: This is a metaphor for infinite regress, suggesting a cosmic turtle stands on the back of another turtle, and so on, indefinitely.
Why it’s a problem
- Explanatory failure: An infinite regress fails to provide a complete or ultimate explanation, as the “why” always leads to another “why”.
- Metaphysical problems: It raises questions about how things can ultimately have a foundation or origin if their existence depends on an unending chain.
- Inability to reach a conclusion: In reasoning, if every premise requires another premise to be true, then the entire chain of reasoning is unsupported and the conclusion is invalid.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/intro-philosophy/infinite-regress
[3] wikipedia/en/Regress_argument_(epistemology)
[4] https://www.joeycofone.com/eureka-newsletter/munchhausen-trilemma
[6] https://www.thephilosophyproject.in/post/understanding-infinity-and-infinite-regress
[7] https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/fallacy-of-infinite-regress
[8] https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2018/entries/infinite-regress/