Analogical argument Flashcards
Who created the analogical argument?
William Paley
Paley’s argument is:
A posteriori- it is empirical in nature
Inductive- based on probability, the conclusion is not necessarily true
Analogical
Which approach does Paley’s argument use?
Natural theology- uses reason and observation rather than any form of special revelation (e.g the Bible)
Which three observations is Paley’s argument based on?
Complexity
Purpose
Regularity
What is Paley’s analogy?
If you found a stone on the ground you would not question it, however, if you saw a watch, you would wonder why it was there
How does Paley’s analogy link to the existence of God?
The universe is complex > Its creation could not have occurred by chance> The world needs a designer just like the watch> God is the designer of the universe.
What is a key quotation to support the design argument?
“The marks of a design are too strong to be gotten over. Design must have had a designer. That designer is a person. That person is God”
Who (would have) criticized the design argument?
David Hume (Hume died before Paley but he would have disagreed)
(1)Why would Hume disagree with the design argument?
Mechanistic analogies are inappropriate
Something as intricate as a watch encourages the idea of a designer
A living organism would be a better analogy- does not require explanation in terms of a designer
(2) Why would Hume disagree with the design argument?
The mechanistic analogy is anthropomorphic ( language that attributes human characteristics or ideas to non-human entities)
Weaknesses of the design argument
Theists give God traits that
