Arguments Based On Observation Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of argument is an argument based on observation

A

A posteriori argument

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2
Q

What type of arguments do a posteriori arguments tend to be

A

Teleological and cosmological arguments

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3
Q

What kind of argument is Aquinas fifth way

A

Teleological and a form of the design theory

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4
Q

Outline Aquinas argument

A
  • form of the design argument
  • takes over from Aristotle’s fifth cause which is the purpose of things -> based on artisto assumption everything has a purpose
  • assumes that all things have a purpose and this purpose comes from god
  • “natural objects act for a purpose, this is evident in that they are always acting… or nearly always the same”
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5
Q

Does everything have a purpose (Aquinas violation)

A
  • does everything have a purpose -> purpose implies a mind and material objects do not have a mind so how can they have a purpose -> maybe it’s not the thing that has a purpose but the mind which has a purpose for it
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6
Q

What is another objection to Aquinas 5th way (quote)

A
  • Aquinas quote of “natural objects act for a purpose, this is evident in how they are acting always or Nearly always the same way”
  • he says “nearly always” which suggest some hesitancy and that he couldn’t find a purpose for all things
  • but why would things be created without a propose, why would god make something with no point
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7
Q

Which philosopher provided support for Aquinas

A

William palsy through us watchmaker analogy

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8
Q

What sort of thinker was paley and what type of mdoel did he use

A

Paley was an enlightenment thinker and used a mechanical model to illustrate his design theory

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9
Q

Outline parleys argument

A

He uses an analogy
- if he was to stumble across a rock, he could account for its existence naturally -> erosion and volcanic activi
- if he was to stumble across a watch, he couldn’t not account for it naturally -> the intricate springs levers and cogs could not be by chance there needs to be a watch maker
- he applies this analogy to the world -> world is so intricate that it must have a watch maker

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10
Q

What’s were paleys 3 vital comments

A

1) inference still stands even if we had never seen a watch before as it is so different from the rock so it must have a different origin
2) even if the watch didn’t work perfectly, same as the world -> there is enough evidence of design to suggest a watch maker
3) inference still stands if there is parts we could not workout the use for

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11
Q

Who provided the most convincing criticisms of paley

A

My bro Hume

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12
Q

What is humes first objection

A

1) the aptness of the analogy
- the model used by Enlightenment thinkers like paley of a machine like universe shapes there arguements for them
- if we use the idea of a machine -> a machine clearly has a machine maker
- but what if were to use a cabbage -> a cabbage is very intricate in how it’s designed but we would not suggest a cabbage maker
- by using a watch, paley has already decided his outcome

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13
Q

What is humes second objection

A

Humes second objection that he accounts for the universes existence through the epicurean thesis
- epicurean thesis argues that if there is finite particles and infinite time -> we would go through every possible combination
- we would find a few stable combinations -> universe we live in now is one of these combinations

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14
Q

Monkey type writers explain Brv

A

If there is infinite time, monkeys with a typewriter will eventually end up with a combination of letters which resemble the work of Shakespeare

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15
Q

What is humes third criticism

A
  • Hume argues we cannot go from an effect to a cause which is greater than needed to cause the effect
  • uses the example of a set of scales with a pan we know the weight of in the air
  • we can deduce that the thing in the other scale is heavier but we do not know by how much could be an ounce or a tonne
  • we cannot go from the evidence of this world to a all loving all powerful god
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16
Q

What is js mills criticism for the design argument /

A

He sees the existence of evil as a fundamental objection to design
- he refers to natural evil such as tsunamis and tornados -> these are part of the structure of the world
- but this must infer a flawed world who was made by a flawed creator
- if I build a leaky ship I would not be considered a good ship builder