1.1 Design Argument

Question 1

What kind of argument is the DA?

Answer 1

Inductive

Question 2

Who is the scholar for the design argument?

Answer 2

William Paley

Question 3

Name of Paley’s book?

Answer 3

Natural theology

Question 4

What kind of statements does the DA use for its argument?

Answer 4

Synthetic

Question 5

What kind of knowledge does the DA use?

Answer 5

A posteriori

Question 6

Weakness of inductive arguments

Answer 6

Only probabilistic/ cannot be 100% true

Question 7

What are the three main sets of observation Paley made?

Answer 7

Complexity, order and purpose

Question 8

Examples of complexity in the world

Answer 8

eye, laws of nature

Question 9

Examples of order/regularity in the world?

Answer 9

seasons, orbit of planets

Question 10

Examples of purpose in the world?

Answer 10

Fish gills, lacteal system

Question 11

How can examples of complexity and order highlight purpose?

Answer 11

Complexity and order of things imply that they were made of the world

Question 12

What is natural theology?

Answer 12

God’s existence can be inferred by using reasn, science, history and observation

Question 13

Explain the watch analogy

Answer 13

Watch shows that it is too complex and purposeful to have come about by chance therefore must have been designed by a watchmaker

Question 14

what are the 6 steps of Paley’s analogy?

Answer 14

1. a watch has complex parts which fit together for a purpose
2. watch must have been designed by a watchmaker
3. The universe has parts that function together for a purpose
4. The univsere must have been designed by a watchmaker
5. The universe is more complex than a watch so the designer must be greater
6. The universe designer is god

Question 15

Explain Paley’s quote: “Every indication of design which existed in the watch exists in the works of nature with the nature being greater and more”

Answer 15

All evidence of design in a watch is also found in nature but is more complex

Question 16

Explain Paley’s quote [nature’s design is greater] “in a degree which exists beyond all computation”

Answer 16

Evidence of design in nature is beyond comprehension/understanding

Question 17

Who is on the main critics of the DA?

Answer 17

David Hume

Question 18

Name of Hume’s book?

Answer 18

Dialogues concerning natural religion

Question 19

What 2 errors do you need to avoid when using Hume to criticise DA?

Answer 19

1. Avoiding thinking Hume was commenting on Paley’s design argument
2. Avoid simply listing the arguments - you need to explain!

Question 20

What are 2 categories of Hume’s criticisms?

Answer 20

1. Argument to design
2. Argument from design

Question 21

Explain Hume’s criticism of ‘lesser beings’

Answer 21

God of classical theism is too big an explanation. The universe could have been designed by lesser beings

Question 22

What is Hume’s main quote?

Answer 22

“A wise man propotions his evidence to the evidence”

Question 23

Explain Hume’s criticism of many Gods

Answer 23

The universe could have been designed by many junior gods

Question 24

Explain Hume’s criticism of an imperfect designer

Answer 24

The universe contains too much evil in the world to have been designed by the God of classical theism

Question 25

Explain Hume’s vegetable analogy

Answer 25

We should compare the universe to a vegetable as they grow of their own accord

Question 26

Explain Hume’s criticism of DA as anthropomorphic

Answer 26

We have no idea of universe making so we limit God by comparing God to a human designer

Question 27

Explain the Epicurean hypothesis

Answer 27

The universe is just the changing arrangements of atoms and given infinite time an ordered universe was inevitable

Question 28

How can evolution criticise the DA?

Answer 28

Evolution explains evidence of design

Question 29

What did Dawkins argue about Paley’s DA

Answer 29

That Paley was ‘gloriously wrong’

Question 30

Swinburne’s quote to support the DA?

Answer 30

“Simplicity is always evidence of the truth”

Question 31

How can we criticise the problem of evil?

Answer 31

1. Free will defence
2. Process theodicy
3. Hick’s soul making theodicy

Question 32

What is the anthropic prinicple?

Answer 32

Universe has been fine tuned to ensure the existence of intelligent life

Question 33

Paley’s argument does provide proof (empirical evidence)

Answer 33

1) Paley provides sufficient empirical evidence

Question 34

Paley’s argument does provide proof (inductive argument)

Answer 34

2) Paley provides an inductive argument which is probably true

Question 35

Paley’s argument does provide proof (best explanation)

Answer 35

God is the best explanation for the evidence of design

Question 36

Paley’s argument does provide not proof (poor evidence)

Answer 36

Evidence provided by Paley can be proven through evolution

Question 37

Paley’s argument does provide not proof (religious experiences)

Answer 37

Theists believe proof can only come through religious experiences

Question 38

Paley’s argument does not provide proof (not a deductive argument)

Answer 38

Only deductive arguments provide 100% proof, inductive arguments are only probable

Question 39

Play’s argument does have value for faith (supports faith)

Answer 39

DA supports faith in God through empirical evidence and reasoning

Question 40

Paley’s argument does have value for faith (against atheism)

Answer 40

Atheists arguments are just as hypothetical therefore DA provides a reasonable argument

Question 41

Paley’s argument does not have value for religious faith (sola fide)

Answer 41

Faith in god is based on faith alone (sola fide), empirical evidence is not needed