Arguments For The Existance Of God Flashcards
What are the 3 Arguments for the existence of God
Design, cosmological, ontological
What is an inductive proof
A set of premises that move towards a conclusion that is not logically necessary but is only logically probable
What is a posteriori
The premises and conclusion are dependent on external evidence or experience ( past) they require verification ( inductive proof )
What is a deductive proof
A set of premises that move towards a logically necessary conclusion
What is a priori argument
The conclusion is not dependent on the external evidence or experience (no verification necessary) ( deductive )
Is there evidence of design
Yes : wow factors, Grand Canyon, sunsets, waterfalls, life itself
No : malfunctions of natural world, tsunamis, earthquakes
What is a quote from Cicero a Roman thinker about the design argument
“We look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens, then there is some divinity or intelligence”
Who are the two scholars for design argument
Paley, Hume
Who was Paley
18th century scholar. He is a theist therefore has a bias
What is the design argument
Argument for the existence of a divine creator. Analogy of watch and natural world. Watch is a complex and intricate mechanism that implies the existence of a watch maker. World is also complex so implies a divine creator
What are some quotes for paleys design argument
“Purpose”
“Maker”
“Intelligent design”
What is the inductive argument for the design argument
The watch is complex has order and purpose, the watch shows evidence of design. The was a designer of the watch
The world is complex, has order and purpose, the world shows evidence of design, the was a designer of the world
What are the strengths of the design argument
-the designer is omnipotent god because this is the simplest explanation
-evil is unavoidable for good to exist
-evolution was designed by god
-based on observation
What are the challenges of the design argument
-there is too much evil to see it as the design of an all loving and powerful god
-universe is more like a vegetable than a machine
-we don’t have experience of universe making do our ideas are anthropomorphic
What is humes criticisms of the design argument
-even if the universe was designed there is no evidence it was created by the god of classical theism
-the existence of evil suggests a limited designer
-world is more like a vegetable which design and reproduce themselves
-anthropomorphism
-chance is a better explanation
What are humes 5 criticism of the design argument
1.cause and effect
2.existence of evil
3.unsound analogy
4.It is an anthropomorphism
5.could just be chance
What is the relationship between faith and reason
Reason is the rational part of the human mind, using logic, establishing facts and reaching conclusions
Faith is belief without proof, trust in the unknown
What does contingent mean
Beings (or things) are dependent for the existence on other beings
What does necessary mean
Something that cannot not exist. I.e. god. Something which all contingent beings rely on for their existence
What does infinite regress mean
A chain of causes and effects going infinitely back in time with no beginning
What are the 3 main points of the cosmological argument
- Argument from motion
- Argument from causation
- Argument from contingency
What is Aquinas first way argument of motion
Everything is moving and changing. Nothing can move or change by itself. There can’t be an infinite regress there must be a prime mover. This is god
What is Aquinas second way argument of causation
Everything has a cause. There can’t be an infinite regress. There must be an uncaused first cause. This is god
What is Aquinas third way argument of contingency
Everything is the world is contingent. If things can not exist there must be a time where they didn’t. There must be a time when nothing existed. There must be something we depend on to exist. This necessary being is god
Who are the 2 scholars for the cosmological argument
Coppleston and russel
Who is Russel
A British 20th century philosopher. Defender of atheism and wrote a lecture called “why I am not a Christian”
Who is coppleston
A 20th century Jesuit priest that supports aquinas
Who is Coppleston’s argument in defence of the cosmological argument
All things in the world are contingent. Therefore there must be a cause of everything. This must be a necessary being
What is a fallacy of composition
The fallacy of inferring that something is true of the whole from the fact it is true from the part of the whole
What does russel say about Aquina’s third way
It commits a fallacy of composition
What are russels criticisms of the cosmological argument
Russell doesn’t think god can be proven
Emphasises the possibility of a brute fact universe
Dismisses the idea of a necessary being
Fallacy of composition
Universe could have no explanation
What is a quote from Russel about the universe being brute fact
“It’s just there and that’s all”
What are Hume and russels 4 main criticisms
1.way 3 commits a fallacy of composition
2.Hume and Russel reject the claim that any being is necessary
3.Hume-universe itself is a necessary being
4.Russel- brute fact universe
What type of argument is the cosmological
A posteriori and inductive
What is the ontological argument
Examines the concept of god. Prove the existence of god by understanding the attributes of gods classical existence. By thinking logically about gods nature we can deduce that he exists
What type of argument is the ontological
A priori, deductive argument
Who are the 3 scholars relating to the ontological argument
Anselm, Gaunilo, Descartes
Who is St Anselm
-11th century monk.
-came up with the ontological argument
What did Anselm say about the ontological argument
-god exists by definition
-existence is a defining characteristic of god
-god cannot possibly not exist
-people who think god doesn’t exist clearly don’t understand the definition of ‘God’
What is Anselms definition of god
“A being than which nothing greater can be conceived”
Explain Anselms definition of god
It is possible to think of something greater than a mere idea. If his is greatest then he must really exist separately from people’s imaginations. He must exist in reality
What is the premises argument of Anselms ontological argument
P1. God is something than which no thing greater can be thought of
P2. Things exist in either mind reality or mind only
P3. It is greater to exist in mind reality so god exists in mind reality
What was Descartes contribution to the ontological argument
Expanded Anselms argument. Existence is a necessary attribute
God without existence is nonsensical
Connection between perfection and existence
Idea of god being innately pefect
What is 2 quotes from Descartes about the ontological argument
“I think therefore I am”
“A supremely perfect being”
what are the criticisms from Gaunilo about the ontological argument
-Gaunilo defends “the fool”
suggests that by using Anselm’s method we could deduce anything into existence
e.g. an island with the greatest wealth
-says Anselm’s argument lacks a personal relationship with god and takes away the idea of faith
what are Anselm’s replies to Gaunilo
-Calls Gaunilo a fool for trying compare a contingent being with a necessary being. says Gaunilo doesn’t understand god
-“the fool says in there heart there is no god
what is Anselm’s reformulated argument
God is the greatest conceivable being therefore he must have the greatest kind of existence
God is dependent of nothing else for existence so he has a necessary existence
necessary existence is greater than a contingent existence as he has no beginning or end
so we cant say he doesn’t exist as it is necessary
god cannot not exist
