Arguments from observation

Question 1

Name the two observational theories theories

Answer 1

Cosmological and teleological

Question 2

Define ‘natural theology’

Answer 2

Drawing conclusions about the nature and existence of God by using reason and observing the world

Question 3

Define ‘contingent’

Answer 3

Being dependent on something

Question 4

Define the ‘principle of sufficient reasoning’

Answer 4

The principle that everything must have an explanation

Question 5

Define ‘sceptic’

Answer 5

Someone who challenges the claims of others

Question 6

Define ‘A posteriori’

Answer 6

Drawing conclusions based on observations from experience

Question 7

Define ‘necessary existence’

Answer 7

A being that doesn’t depend on anything but itself to live

Question 8

Define ‘A priori’

Answer 8

Drawing conclusions through logic and reason

Question 9

Define ‘logical fallacy’

Answer 9

Reasoning who’s structure is flawed

Question 10

Finish the quote by Romans 1:19-20 “Since what may be known about God is plain to them…

Answer 10

Because God has made it plain to them… God’s invisible qualities… have been clearly seen… People are without excuse”

Question 11

What is the basis of teleological arguments?

Answer 11

The example or order, beauty and purpose in this world means there must be a designer outside of the universe

Question 12

What is the aim of Aquinas’ Quinque viae?

Answer 12

To show how reason and faith could work together because there are two ways of knowing God, through revelation and natural theology

Question 13

What is Aquinas’ fifth way?

Answer 13

Nature has order and purpose to it, nothing is inanimate without a ‘guiding hand’ e.g. a bow and arrow without an archer

Question 14

Use the example of the river to explain the meaning of Aquinas’ fifth way

Answer 14

A river does not flow into the sea because it chooses too because it doesn’t have the mind to choose too and so the guiding hand is God

Question 15

Finish the quote from Aquinas “Whatever lacks knowledge cannot…

Answer 15

Move towards an end unless it be directed… to their end and this being we call God”

Question 16

Describe William Paley’s teleological argument

Answer 16

Someone walking on a heath saw a watch on the ground and noticed its intricate design, they had then concluded it must have had a maker and this is similar for the human body and earthly processes

Question 17

According to Paley, what else depicts God’s nature and existence?

Answer 17

His loving nature is shown in the adaptations of animals and their unique abilities

Question 18

What is the basis of the cosmological argument?

Answer 18

The universe cannot account for its own existence and so there must be a reason why it exists but because the world is contingent, its creator must be outside of time and space

Question 19

The first three of Aquinas’ five ways are based on what two assumptions?

Answer 19

1 - the universe exists

2 - there must be a reason why the universe exists

Question 20

Name and describe the Aquinas’ first way

Answer 20

An unmoved mover: the ways in which objects grow, move and change in composition cannot be part of an infinite regress, there must be a being that first started motion

Question 21

Give a quote from Aquinas to describe the first of the five ways

Answer 21

“Nothing can be reduced from potentiality to actuality except by something in a state of actuality… everyone understands to be God”

Question 22

What is the emphasis of Aquinas’ first way?

Answer 22

Dependency rather than finding the beginning by using the idea that God sustains life and the cosmos as we would not have a universe without something first beginning motion

Question 23

Name and describe Aquinas’ second way

Answer 23

The uncaused causer - instead of the concept of motion, the idea is that the chain of cause and effect cannot be an infinite regress

Question 24

Which of Aristotle’s causes supports the second way? Give a quote as evidence

Answer 24

The efficient cause - the activity that causes something to exist or be
“It is necessary to admit a first efficient cause to which everyone gives the name God”

Question 25

Name and describe Aquinas’ third way

Answer 25

Contingency: everything is dependent on something for existence in one of two ways; (1) dependency on being brought into existence (2) dependency on external factors to sustain existence

Question 26

How does Gottfried Leibniz believe the universe is best understood? What is his key question?

Answer 26

In the relation of time and space rather than facts and rules
‘Why is there something rather than nothing?’

Question 27

What are Gottfried Leibniz four points of the principle of sufficient reasoning?

Answer 27

• If something exists there must be a reason why
• If a statement is true there must be a reason why
• If something happens there must be a reason why
• It makes no difference if it is eternal

Question 28

Why does Hume criticise Paley?

Answer 28

A watch is not a sufficient example because it is not natural so its design and purposes are more obvious than the world

Question 29

Why does Hume criticise the concept of a divine creator?

Answer 29

Just because there is order and purpose does not justify a creator because we know no other world to compare it too

Question 30

Explain Hume’s analogy of the scales

Answer 30

There is a set of scales, one end has a kilogram on it, the weight on the other side is unseeable but is heavier than a kilogram just like the cause-and-effect argument we cannot claim this to be God

Question 31

What is Bertrand Russell’s criticism of the observation arguments?

Answer 31

Just because every human being has a mother does not mean that the whole of the human race has a mother