Glendower problem

The Glendower Problem is an objection to the causal principle or the principle of sufficient reason. This undermines various cosmological arguments because they depend on these as premises.

Origin

The name comes from the play "Henry IV", in which Shakespeare gave the following immortal lines to the players:

Glendower: I can call Spirits from the vastie Deepe

Hotspur: Why so can I, or so can any man: But will they come, when you doe call for them?

See also

• Cosmological argument
• Kalam