Arguments for the existence of God

Question 1

describe Paley’s design argument in three words

Answer 1

A posterior - its empirical in nature / based on sense experiences
Inductive - Based on probability and not knock down proof
Analogical - based on comparisons between two features of things
teleological - concerned with the purpose or end

Question 2

Whats approach is used by Paley’s argument

Answer 2

Natural theology -It makes no appeal to any forms of special revelation , it uses observation and scientific evidence

Question 3

CONTEXT - Paley’s book

Answer 3

in Paley’s book “NATURAL THEOLOGY”reference is made to Genesis 1:1 at the end just to point out agreement between natural and revealed theology

Question 4

What three observations of the world is Paley’s argument based on

Answer 4

• complexity -
• purpose
• regularity

Question 5

What is natural theology

Answer 5

The view that questions about Gods exigence nature and attributes can be answered by reasoning ,science history and observations rather then revelations

Question 6

Paley’s analogy

Answer 6

when walking across rough ground stubbing ones toe against a stone would not raise question of how the stone was to come there .In coming across a watch it would be reasonable to do so

Question 7

what is the significance of the watch

Answer 7

1-Observations would point to complexity and suitability of its parts to its role and arrangement to serve purpose
2- This could have occurred by chance .A complete explanation would require reference to a purpose giver
3-an intelligent watch maker must have designed it .

Question 8

what is the Link watch to the universe

Answer 8

1-The universe is complex , it shows the same precise suitability of parts and arrangement to serve purpose
2-This could have occurred by chance but a complete explanation requires a universe designer

Question 9

what are some illustrations given by Paley to support his argument

Answer 9

• The eye is superbly adapted for vision
• The fins and gills of fish are perfect for living water
• Birds bones wings and feathers are perfect for flight
• regularity in the universe of planetary orbits on the earth of each season

Question 10

Quote from Paley

Answer 10

“The marks of design are too strong to be gotten over .Design must have had a designer .The design must have had a person .That person is God “-Natural theology

Question 11

DAVID HUME - design argument criticism DO NOT FORGET

Answer 11

Hume did not directly refer to Paley’s argument directly , however he criticized design arguments( Hume was writing before Paley “

Question 12

HUME - rejection of the idea of design

Answer 12

says mechanistic analogies are inappropriate
“ The exact similarities of the cases gives us a perfect assurance of a similar outcome but the evidence are less strong when the cases are then perfectly alike “ , like effects do not have like causes

Question 13

HUME-comment on order

Answer 13

• Hume says that given the constantly changing arrangement of its atoms over an infinite period of time , it was inevitable that order would eventually emerge
• He also suggested that the possibility that the world alternates between periods of chaos and order and by sheer chance , existence is currently in a period of order

Question 14

HUME- little can be said about designer

Answer 14

the mechanistic analogy is anthropomorphic
-Humans have no knowledge about how universe are made , this means we can know nothing about the capacities or nature of any universe designer

Question 15

HUME - the problem of evil

Question 16

THOMAS AQUINAS

Answer 16

St Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) argued that the apparent order and complexity in the world is proof of a designer and that this designer is God. William Paley (1743 – 1805) argued that the complexity of the world suggests there is a purpose to it.

Question 17

HUME

Answer 17

When nature has operated in such variety of ways on this small planet ,can we think that she incessantly copies herself throughout the rest of immense universe
why assume that the natural realm exhibits evidence of natural realm rather then more nature

Question 18

What type of argument is paleys argument

Answer 18

its aposteriori meaning that its based on sense experience
furthermore its inductive -inductive reasoning is when we use premise to supply strong evidence for the truth of the conclusion

Question 19

how did paley formulate his inductive design argument

Answer 19

some objects in the world show clear evidence that they were designed because they exhibit complexity and regularity from which we can infer that they were made for a purpose
The universe appears to exhibit complexity and regularity from which we can infer that it was made for a purpose
so it was likely that the universe was designed

Question 20

What is paleys analogy

Answer 20

A watch has complex parts each with a function and parts work together for a specific purpose
so the watch must have been designed by a watchmaker
similarly the universe must have been designed by a universe maker
the universe is a far more wonderful design than a watch so its designer is much greater than any human
the universe designer is God

Question 21

state one of humes criticisms of the design argument 1

Answer 21

even if granted the universe that the universe was designed there is no evidence that the designer was the god of christian theism

Question 22

elaborate on humes first criticisms

Answer 22

Paley infers that the designer of the universe is all powerful all loving God of christian theism although such inference might be true it nevertheless out of proportion to the evidence if there is a designer a lesser being could be responsible

Question 23

what are the alternative conclusions hume comes to

Answer 23

whenever we see intellegent minds we find them attached to physical bodies so there is no obvious reason to suppose that designer of universe was metaphysical being hume speculated that designer may have a body and was mortal and did
design is a feature of team work of many people so there is no reasons to suppose designer was one god

Question 24

other criticisms

Answer 24

Analogies between the way the universe works and machines are unsound “the world is like a vegetable and vegetables grow by themselves without the need of designer “
Hume seems to support evolution hes supported by some biologists who share the belief that evolution is not directed by anyone .

Question 25

criticisms

Answer 25

to make an analogy between the designers of human machines and the designer of the universe is just anthropomorphism we are trying to explain the universe in our own image

Question 26

criticism 3

Answer 26

universe could have developed into a comparatively ordered state simply by chance
this is Hume’s “epicurean hypothesis “ -taught that the basic constituent of the world were indivisible atoms .since the world is nothing nor less than changing arrangement of atoms given infinite time it was inevitable that atoms should arrive to an ordered state
.multi universe theory supports this because we can explain this universe without needing to appeal to God

Question 27

strength of paley 1

Answer 27

Richard Swinburne argues against Hume that the existence of an all powerful god is a simpler and therefore better explanation for the appearance of design within the universe

Question 28

strength of paley 2

Answer 28

Paley argued that evil is unavoidable in order for God to bring about good
supported by free will defense freedom to choose between the highest goods and evil means that there should be evils within the world
hicks soul making theology

Question 29

Richard Swinburne response to evolution

Answer 29

evolution explains nothing since its regulated entirely by that laws of physics and chemistry and those laws do not explain themselves we need to ask where the laws of nature come from Swinburne says its God.

Question 30

how argument is supported by anthropic principle

Answer 30

anthropic means relating to human ,the principle points out that there are 30 or more boundry conditions that must be fine turned in for an ordered universe the odds against all being turned is 10-8 so if this is the onlu universe it seems that it was definitely designed .