Arguments for the Existence of God

Question 1

what is the foundations of the teleological argument

Answer 1

through the observation of purpose and regularity

Question 2

what is Aquinas’ fifth way

Answer 2

he observed that natural objects do not behave randomly but move towards certain goals

Question 3

what is an example of natural objects moving towards goals

Answer 3

a flower moving towards sunlight

Question 4

why does the idea of Purpose for Aquinas suggest a creator

Answer 4

things in the world cannot direct themselves therefore there must a being directing us

Question 5

what is Aquinas example of a being directing something

Answer 5

an Archer directs an arrow

Question 6

how can Aquinas’ argument be summarised for the teleological argument

Answer 6

all things show evidence of design
this suggests that something is directing us
things that lack knowledge cannot achieve anything unless directed
therefore they are directed by something

Question 7

what does William Paleys argument consist of

Answer 7

the combination of complexity and purpose

Question 8

how does Paleys use of a watch support the idea of God

Answer 8

a watch is clearly designed by a being due to both its purpose and complexity, telling the time and use of cogs, the same could br said about a rock being a ‘cog’

Question 9

what is an example of a complex natural thing with purpose

Answer 9

the human eye.

Question 10

what is does Paley further argue

Answer 10

the universe appears to behave according to some order of Rule.

Question 11

how does Hume argue against there teleological argument

Answer 11

there exists nothing in the universe to which a universe can be compared, therefore you cannot infer anything.

Question 12

why is the teleological arguments vagueness on the creator an advantage

Answer 12

both heir argument don’t claim too much, only that there is a creator not an abrahamic God.

Question 13

why is evil a weakness of the teleological argument

Answer 13

suffering shows a ‘bad design’

Question 14

how does Darwins theory critic the teleological argument

Answer 14

the world as not created perfectly, rather through evolution and natural selection, life has become ordered

Question 15

how does Paley argue against the problem of evil

Answer 15

even a broken watch has a designer

Question 16

what is the basis of the cosmological arguement

Answer 16

God is necessary for the explanation for the existence of the universe

Question 17

what is Aquinas’ 1st way

Answer 17

we observe things that are in motion, motion means being moved so there must be a first mover.

Question 18

what is Aquinas’ 2nd way

Answer 18

as there is a first cause, there cannot be an infinite regress, so the first call must be God

Question 19

what is Aquinas’ 3rd way

Answer 19

we observe all contingent things, everything can’t be contingent then it will lead to infinite regress. therefore there is a necessary being which is God

Question 20

summary of Aquinas’ three ways

Answer 20

1 - first mover
2 - first cause
3 - necessity among contingency

Question 21

what it Leibniz sufficient reason?

Answer 21

even if we cant know or find out what the reason is, there must be one.’from nothing, nothing comes’

Question 22

what is a weakness of the cosmological argument relying on infinite regress

Answer 22

just because we cant imagine infinite regress doesn’t mean it is not possible. purely ruling it out is not a strong argument.

Question 23

what is Humes idea of necessary existence against god

Answer 23

things in the universe such as energy can be the necessary existence not God.

Question 24

how is the causal principle a strength

Answer 24

it is empirically justifiable to assume that everything has a cause

Question 25

what is Anselm’s ontological argument summarised as

Answer 25

something that exists is greater than something that does not exist.

Question 26

how can Anselm’s argument be seen as circular logic

Answer 26

Bertrand Russel shows how it is not possible to fault Anselm but it is not a convincing argument.

Question 27

Anselm famous quote

Answer 27

than which nothing greater can be concieved.

Question 28

what is Gaunilos response to Anselm’s argument

Answer 28

the argument of the perfect island, if you think of the greatest island, it must exist otherwise it is not the greatest thing

Question 29

Anselm’s defence to Gaunilo’s arguement

Answer 29

Gaunilo’s island is contingent on the sea and land, God is not a contingent being.

Question 30

what is Aquinas’ argument against Anselm

Answer 30

everyones God would be different, and is subjected to human limitation.

Question 31

what are the two objection to the ontological argument made by Kant

Answer 31

1st - that IF god exeists then he must have existence. that does not mean he does actually exist
2nd - existence is not predicate, existence does not add anything to the essence of something

Question 32

what is Descartes Ontological arguement

Answer 32

Gods existent is self evident like it is evident that a triangle has three sides. for Descartes, existence is a property of perfection.

Question 33

what is Descartes analogy of the mountain

Answer 33

the valley is implied as part of a mountain the same that God is implied as part of existence.

Question 34

what is Humes harsh criticism of the teleological arguement

Answer 34

the universe must of been created by an Infant deity through the amount of suffering

Question 35

what is a criticism of Kants 1st objection

Answer 35

it is incoherent for Kant to accept that God must existence but also maintain that IF he exists

Question 36

what is a criticism of Kants 2nd objection

Answer 36

Kant falls into the same trap as Gaunilo. existence is not predicate for contingent things. but for a necessary being to exist it must bring itself to existence and cannot rely on something else to bring it into existence. therefore, existence does add essence to a necessary being