This first cluster gathers the theistic arguments that reach for a divine ground without presupposing structure: the cosmological and foundation arguments ([§5.1.1](<5.1.1 Rasmussen's Foundation Argument.md>)–[§5.1.4](<5.1.4 Argument from Simplicity.md>)), the arguments from design and fine-tuning ([§5.1.5](<5.1.5 Fine-Tuning Argument.md>)–[§5.1.6](<5.1.6 Intelligent Design.md>)), the ontological and modal arguments ([§5.1.7](<5.1.7 Modal Ontological Argument.md>)–[§5.1.8](<5.1.8 Modal-Grounding Argument.md>)), and the transcendental, moral, and pragmatic ones ([§5.1.9](<5.1.9 Transcendental Argument.md>)–[§5.1.11](<5.1.11 Pascal's Wager.md>)). Each reaches past the world toward a God offered as prior to and more fundamental than time, space, and substance.

Each is pressed on a single question: can it be carried through without leaning on the structural roles it was meant to stand free of? The recurring finding is often relocation rather than refutation. A ground that acts, knows, creates, sustains, or explains must at least bear directed dependence, relational differentiation, and real grounding content. Whether those roles entail the richer types of temporal succession, spatial extension, and causal persistence depends on the specific form of the ground and must be argued rather than assumed. A candidate that posits an essence-prior or transcendent ground may remain a live metaphysical proposal; the chapter asks whether it has supplied an intelligible grounding relation or merely named one.


- [5.1.1 Rasmussen's Foundation Argument](<5.1.1 Rasmussen's Foundation Argument.md>)
- [5.1.2 Cosmological Argument](<5.1.2 Cosmological Argument.md>)
- [5.1.3 Simultaneous Causation](<5.1.3 Simultaneous Causation.md>)
- [5.1.4 Argument from Simplicity](<5.1.4 Argument from Simplicity.md>)
- [5.1.5 Fine-Tuning Argument](<5.1.5 Fine-Tuning Argument.md>)
- [5.1.6 Intelligent Design](<5.1.6 Intelligent Design.md>)
- [5.1.7 Modal Ontological Argument](<5.1.7 Modal Ontological Argument.md>)
- [5.1.8 Modal-Grounding Argument](<5.1.8 Modal-Grounding Argument.md>)
- [5.1.9 Transcendental Argument](<5.1.9 Transcendental Argument.md>)
- [5.1.10 Moral Argument](<5.1.10 Moral Argument.md>)
- [5.1.11 Pascal's Wager](<5.1.11 Pascal's Wager.md>)


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← [5. Rival Ultimates](<5. Rival Ultimates.md>) | [5.1.1 Rasmussen's Foundation Argument](<5.1.1 Rasmussen's Foundation Argument.md>) →
