arguments based on ob (Hume)

Question 1

in humes dialogues he made many criticisms on what idea?

Answer 1

disagreed that design in this world gives strong evidence for the existence of god

Question 2

how did Hume criticise the watch analogy ?

Answer 2

• It cannot be assumed that it’s obvious to everyone how the world is like a watch.
• Characteristics of purpose and design might be obvious in a watch, but these are not nearly as obvious in the world. Conclude that the watch had been designed because we would not think it could have been done naturally, as such design is not seen in nature. It’s not right to compare the world and machines and use them as analogies as there is very little similarities

Question 3

what limitations did Hume see with suggesting there is order in the world for a divine creator?

Answer 3

we don’t have another world to compare this one with

Question 4

why is order necessary in the world necessary for Hume?

Answer 4

Any world would look designed because if it were chaotic, it would not survive. It is not enough to show that the world is orderly for the conclusion to be drawn that God must have designed it. Order could not have come about except by God, it’s impossible to show.

Question 5

why did Hume criticise design argument?

Answer 5

because of their assumption that if we look at the effects, we can infer the cause. Looking at the evidence around us, we can work backwards and see that god must be the cause of It. Hume attacked this reasoning, saying cause and effect does not operate as simply as this.

Question 6

what did Hume suggest, if we do assume a creator?

Answer 6

Even if we can assume a creator there is no reason to suggest that this creator is the Christian God. We have a finite and imperfect world; there is no need to assume there must be an infinite, perfect god behind it.

Question 7

Hume criticised cosmological arguments by saying what about reason?

Answer 7

we could not possibly move from the idea that everything in the universe had a reason to say the whole universe has a reason

Question 8

what example did hume use about reason and mother?

Answer 8

Russell said that just because every human has a mother does not mean that the human species as a whole has a mother. Overstepping the rules of logic to move from individual cases to totality having a cause.

Question 9

hume quote and question?

Answer 9

‘Why may not the material universe be the necessary existent being?’

Question 10

what did hume conclude ?

Answer 10

We can imagine something coming into existence without a cause: it’s not an incoherent idea. Perhaps the principle of sufficient reason is wrong.