Arguments for the existence of God Flashcards
Design qua Purpose
The clear and evident purpose of the complex structures seen in nature is evidence they were designed
Design qua Regularity
The order and regularity of the universe is evidence of a designer
Inductive form of design argument
Most complex systems have a designer
the universe is a complex system
the universe is likely to have a designer
Paleys example of regularity
solar system
sun close enough to support human life
Paleys example of purpose
eyes of animals
crocodile and eagle
Hume’s criticisms of Paley
-Multiple Gods
-Universe could’ve grown like a vegetable
Some complex systems aren’t designed
-Epicurean hypothesis- infinity means universe would’ve eventually taken this shape
Even if there is a Designer, no proof its christian God
Hume’s quote about multiple designers
“A great number of men join in building a house or ship, in rearing a city, in framing a commonwealth”
Paleys response to “some complex things are not designed”
Paley says no one actually believes this
he say natural laws clearly reflect divinity
Paley’s response to multiple designers
have you ever seen a council create something as coherent as the universe?
Ex- Nihilo
“out of nothing”
this is how aquinas says the world was created
Argument from Motion
All things have been moved by another, since this cant go back infinitely because infinite regress, there must be a first mover
the unmoved mover is God
Argument from causation
Everything has a cause
infinite regress is impossible
there must be an original, uncaused cause
this is God
Argument from contingency and necessity
Some contingent beings exist
in order to avoid and infinite regress, there must be a necessary being
God is the only necessary being
fallacy of composition
just because components have a certain property, the entire thing doesnt have the same property
rectangular bricks in cylindrical tower
Principle of sufficient reason
everything in the universe must have a cause. as a result, every contingent fact must have an explanation
Steady state universe
Russell
Why is an infinite regress impossible? it simply could’ve always been
the universe is made of contingent and therefore likely is contingent
Anselm’s definition of God
That that which nothing greater can be conceived
Descartes definition of God
the supremely perfect being
Anselm’s ontological argument
Anything that exists in reality is better than in imagination
god is the best possible thing you can imagine
God exists in reality
analogy of the painter
analogy of the painter
painter is going to paint a picture
is the idea of the picture before its painted better than the finally product
anselm says its obvious that he final product is better as its real
Descartes ontological argument
God is the supremely perfect being
existence is perfection
God is therefore not perfect if he doesnt exist
Descartes example of God and existence
highlands and lowlands
rivers and banks
Gaunilo’s criticism of Anselm
You can apply ttwngcbc to anything
for example:
perfect island
Anslem’s response to Gaunilos perfect island
you can only apply TTWNGCBC to necessary beings
the perfect island is defined differently by everyone
island has no intrinsic maximum
Irreconcilable contradiction
God cannot be conceived to not exist
if you can imagine something to not exist, its not God
strength of ontological argument
uses a ride definition of God as its basis
weakness of ontological argument
only works if we all define God the same way
Kant’s criticism of Descartes ontological argument
existence is not a predicate
claiming the existence of something adds nothing to its definition (marko exists. Ok? I know?)
Deflationary theory of truth
saying something is true adds nothing to its definition
What does Kant say about existence
it must be emperically verified
it cant be logically assumed
so existence cannot remain in the definition of something
