Explain the role of temporal causation in the Kalām cosmological argument and how the possibility of an infinite series presents an issue for this argument.
AQA A-Level Philosophy | Paper 2 | 2026 Predicted Paper | Question 4 Mark Scheme
Explain the role of temporal causation in the Kalām cosmological argument and how the possibility of an infinite series presents an issue for this argument.
[12 marks]
What is expected
This is a 12-mark AO1 explanation question, so students are not being asked to decide whether the Kalām argument succeeds. They need to give a detailed and logically organised explanation of the argument, then explain the infinite-series objection in direct relation to it.
AQA guidance stresses that 12-mark answers require the different parts of the response to be integrated, rather than giving two disconnected chunks of knowledge. The Kalām argument is specifically identified by AQA as an argument from temporal causation, while the possibility of an infinite series is one of the specified issues for cosmological arguments.
Levels of response
Marks | Descriptor |
10–12 | The answer is precise, detailed and logically integrated. The Kalām argument and the infinite-series objection are both explained accurately, with the connection between them made explicit. Philosophical terminology is used precisely and relevance is sustained. |
7–9 | A clear and generally detailed explanation showing good understanding. Both parts are addressed and connected, although there may be some minor omission, imprecision or lack of integration. |
4–6 | A broadly correct and coherent answer with some relevant explanation. There may be gaps in the argument, limited development of the infinite-series issue, or some confusion between different cosmological arguments. |
1–3 | Some relevant knowledge is present, but it is fragmentary, significantly incomplete or imprecise. There may be little connection between the Kalām argument and the issue identified in the question. |
0 | Nothing worthy of credit. |
This follows the structure of AQA's current 12-mark levels, where the highest band requires a response that is precise, fully integrated, logical and consistently relevant.
Indicative content
The Kalām cosmological argument
Students may explain that:
the Kalām is a cosmological argument for the existence of God
it is based on temporal causation
temporal causation involves a cause being temporally prior to its effect
the argument starts from the claim that the universe had a temporal beginning
things or events that begin to exist require a cause
if the universe began to exist, its beginning therefore requires a cause
this cause cannot itself simply be another event within the temporal causal sequence if it is being used to explain the beginning of that sequence
the argument therefore concludes that there must be a first, uncaused cause of the beginning of the universe, identified as God
AQA describes the Kalām as reasoning from the temporal beginning of the universe to a first cause which is itself uncaused.
Students could express the core reasoning in a form such as:
Whatever begins to exist has a cause of its existence.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore, the universe has a cause of its existence.
This first cause is identified with God.
Students do not have to reproduce those exact premises, provided the philosophical reasoning is accurately explained.
The importance of temporal causation
A strong answer should make clear that temporality matters.
The Kalām does not merely argue that things depend on other things. It argues backwards through a temporal sequence of causes and effects to the beginning of the universe.
AQA defines temporal causation as an order in which causes are temporally prior to their effects and explicitly states that this is the order of causation underlying the Kalām argument.
Students may distinguish this from Aquinas' atemporal or hierarchical causation, although this distinction should only be used to clarify the Kalām rather than becoming a lengthy discussion of Aquinas.
The possibility of an infinite series
Students should then explain the specified issue.
They may explain that:
the Kalām requires a beginning to the temporal causal sequence
if the series of causes and events stretching into the past could instead be infinite, there would be no first member of the series
each event could be preceded by an earlier event or cause
there would therefore be no point at which the argument could infer a first temporal cause
if an infinite temporal series is possible, the claim that there must be a first cause is undermined
therefore the existence of the universe would not, simply by itself, establish the necessity of an originating first cause in the manner required by the Kalām
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