This reading assumes a prior understanding of rational judgements.

Whether or not there is link between possibility and emergence has significant consequences on potential arguments for and against the world’s pre-eternality. We will present an argument below, highlighting the link between:

1. Possibility
2. Contingency
3. Emergence

[ .1 Some Existents are Possible]

Here we demonstrate the fact that bodies are possible existents:

1. A body cannot be rationally necessary because we can conceive of bodies not existing: It could have been non-existent.
2. A body cannot be rationally impossible because we can conceive of bodies existing: It could have been existent.
3. Therefore it must be rationally possible: We can equally conceive of both its existence and non-existence.

We can apply the same rational judgment to Accidents, so Bodies and Accidents are rationally possible existents.

[ .2 All Possible essences are Contingent ]

This is just a continuation from our previous point. Using the principle of causality, once we have shown that an object is possible we affirm that this object is reliant on an extrinsic specifier for its existence.

If an object accepts both existence and non-existence, then this object is contingent on its specifier.

[ .3 The Extrinsic Specifier Must be Necessary ]

The extrinsic specifier must be necessary. The specifier cannot be possible because this would mean:

1. The specifier would be possible and contingent.
2. This specifier would then need a different specifier.
3. This would result to an infinite set of specifiers.
4. An infinite regress of possible existents is rationally impossible.

[ .4 Contingent Essences are Emergent]

We have shown the contingent existent needed an extrinsic specifier. There are two ways we can conceive of Him causing the object to exist

How does he cause object to exist	Ruling	Reason
Without a choice	Rationally Impossible	This would mean the object has necessarily flowed from the existence of the specifier, making the object necessary too.   This would make the object that we have already declared possible to suddenly become necessary.   This is impossible based on the principle that realities do not change.
With a choice	Rationally Possible	This would mean that the object was specified with existence due to a choice from the specifier. It would not have always existed and therefore would have to be emergent.

This shows the object began to exist.

[ .5 Summary ]

Here is a summary of how we arrived at emergence:

Concept	Reasoning
Possible existence	Making a rational judgement using the principle of non-contradiction.

Necessitates

Contingency

Every possible existence is reliant on an extrinsic specifier based on the principle of causality.

Necessitates

Necessary extrinsic specifier

The extrinsic specifier cannot be contingent or we would fall into an infinite regress, which is impossible.

Necessitates

Emergence

The extrinsic specifier must have chosen to bring the object into existence, making it emergent at the point of His choosing

Terms:

Specifier
An essence that chose existence for another essence

Extrinsic
We are making it clear that the essence did not cause itself to exist based on the principle of causality.

Possible
An object that accepts both existence and non-existence.

Contingent
An object that accepts both existence and non-existence is reliant.

Emergent
An object that began to exist.