Argumentative Strategy Series: The Analog Strategy
Let us consider a well-worn argument:
P1 Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
P2 The universe began to exist.
C Therefore, the universe has a cause. (Reichenbach, Bruce. “Cosmological Argument”. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2021. Web.)
When nonbelievers first encounter this argument, it is likely they find it suspicious even if they cannot immediately identify why. My first written refutation of the argument zeroed in on the fact that it appears to commit the fallacy of composition. As an inexperienced and naive thinker, it was a real eureka moment for me. As it turns out, this is a common retort.
Russell replies that the move from the contingency of the components of the universe to the contingency of the universe commits the Fallacy of Composition, which mistakenly concludes that since the parts have a certain property, the whole likewise has that property. Hence, whereas we legitimately can ask for the cause of particular things, to require a cause of the universe based on the contingency of its parts is mistaken.
Reichenbach, Bruce, “Cosmological Argument”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.)
My interest here is not whether or not this rebuttal works against the Kalam. We can all agree that proponents of the argument will reject this rebuttal and certainly won’t regard it as a defeater. To my mind, it does work and although it is not the best rebuttal or strongest defeater for the argument, it is worth understanding why it works. Unfortunately, one would still have to deal with the obstinate apologist refusing to hear your case. In cases like this, the analog strategy works perfectly.
Basically put, the strategy would have one devise an argument so similar to the original that it would be difficult to deny the analog without also denying the original. This is admittedly tricky, but if successful, this could save a lot of time otherwise spent on trying to convince someone who refuses to budge and doubles down. Discussions on the Kalam give us a perfect segue: another common refutation is the possibility of a multiverse. Whether one goes with M-theory or Everett’s Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, other universes are a consequence in some theories in cosmology and quantum mechanics. It does not, as some apologists erroneously claim, result from a refusal to admit that God created the universe. Carroll alluded to this refutation in his debate with Craig.
So without further ado, here is a Kalam analog that theists will almost certainly reject:
P1 For every particular thing that exists, there is always more than one of that particular thing
P2 The universe exists
C Therefore, there is more than one universe
A standard refutation to this argument will likely point out that I have committed the fallacy of composition. People will likely say that the universe is unlike everyday objects. They might find it patently absurd that made a logical inference from many cats, ants, and planets to many universes. Another standard refutation of the Kalam can be mapped onto the analog: what is meant by “particular thing that exists”? Although I find the argument prima facie intriguing, I would concede; my argument does not succeed at logically proving the existence of other universes. Whether a dissenter points out the fallacy or whether they quibble with the semantics of the argument, there refutations have force. Now is when sleight of hand occurs and you hold up a mirror.
The theist will have to strongly consider whether the analog is a charitable reflection of the argument they think is true. In this particular case, if they are suspicious of my inference from many entities to many universes, then they are obligated to be equally as suspicious of the inference from every entity in the universe being an effect to the universe being an effect. There is only one other option: they will have to show that the analog is dissimilar to the original in some critical way. If they choose that route, I do not see a way forward. If after employing this strategy, they still double down, then you know you are not dealing with someone who is reasoning properly. They likely have an emotional attachment to the argument or accept it because of motivated reasoning. Whatever the case, any further discussion with such an individual is fruitless.
Ultimately, the analog strategy is an effective and powerful tool to have in one’s reasoning kit. As shown here, when used properly, proponents of flawed or outright unsound arguments have to reckon with the efficacy of certain refutations. Where they might have waved these refutations away, they now have to consider the possibility that the argument they thought was true is actually false. The strategies I have offered so far make one thing abundantly clear, and it is perhaps one thing most philosophers are reluctant to admit, certainly not something I am ashamed to admit: persuasion involves manipulation and deception. These terms tend to have bad connotations, but reasoning, like playing a game of chess, must involve setting traps for your opponent. In order for philosophy to be more truth-obtaining than it currently is, these strategies have to be learned and used effectively, so that we can begin to eliminate erroneous arguments and schools of thought.
The Philosophy Corner 
But 1 is provably false. Let REALITY denote the set of all things that exist. That clearly can’t be duplicated.
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That’s a fallacy of composition. Reality isn’t a thing, but even if it was, people brighter than you think parallel realities exist. So your point is moot, even if it wasn’t an outright fallacy.
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