Arguments for the existence of God Flashcards
What is an a priori argument
-it’s a deductive argument
-doesn’t require sense experience
-empirical evidence is not needed
-based purely on logic/reason
-doesn’t conclude anything that is not already in the premises
what is an a posteriori argument
-it’s a inductive argument
-requires sense experience
-empirical evidence is needed
-the conclusion of the proof is not contained within the premises
What type of argument is the design argument?
It’s an a posteriori argument
Give a non Christian view of the design argument
The design argument goes back to Plato and Cicero(a roman thinker)
‘What could be more clear or obvious when we look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens, that there is some divinity or intelligence’
What is the design argument?
The claim that the appearance of “design” in nature- such as the complexity, order. purposefulness and function of living organisms- can only be explained by the existence of a “designer”.
What type of argument is Paley’s argument?
an a posteriori argument
What are the 3 observations about the world that Paley’s argument is based on?
it’s complexity
it’s regularity
it’s purpose
Describe Paley’s 3 observations about the world
complexity-Paley looks at the complexity of biological organisms and organs such as the eye. He also looks at the complicity of the laws of nature by which everything is governed
regularity-Paley observes in particular the regularity of the orbits of comets, moons and planets and the regularity of the seasons of the year
purpose-Palet observes the machines that we make and infers they are build for a purpose. Our observation of the complexity and regularity of the world therefore implies that the world too has a purpose.
Summarise the inductive design argument that Paley formulated on the basis of these observations
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 is likely that the universe was designed
What is Paley’s watchmaker analogy
The idea that a watch is so complex and could not have just come about.
It needed a designer to make it.
Similarly, the world is so complex that it could not have just randomly appeared.
It needed a skilled creator
What are Hume’s arguments
-Even if we grant that the universe was designed, there is no evidence that this was the God of Christian theism. A lesser being could have designed the universe.
-The existence of evil and imperfection in the world does indeed suggest a limited designer
-Analogies between the way the universe works and the way machines work are unsound
-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.
-The universe could have developed into a comparatively ordered state simply by chance.
What is the status of Paley’s design argument as a proof?
-Paley’s Design Argument is inductive, but its evidence does not amount to scientific proof
-Paley’s inductive argument could well be the best explanation of the order we see in the universe.
-For some individuals who believe in God, Paley’s Design Argument could not be a proof, because proof could only come through religious experience,
-Paley’s inductive Design Argument can never have the status of a deductive proof.
How strong of a ‘proof’ is Paleh’s DA?
Paley’s DA is a strong proof in that it uses evidence from the world around us, however since it’s an a posteriori argument, it will only ever give as a probable argument which is a weakness.
What does the DA suggest about the relationship between reason and faith?
It suggests that there is a designer but a leap of faith is needed to argue that it is the ‘God of classical theism’
What value does Paley’s DA have for religious faith?
People who have faith will be able to make a connection between the God of the Bible and the Designer in the DA.
