Challenges to Inductive Arguments Flashcards
Theme 1C
What is a strength of the Teleological Argument?
It is simple, as the existence of an all-powerful God is a simpler explanation of design.
How does the Teleological Argument provide logical reasoning?
It makes sense because each argument has rational steps and premises.
What empirical support does the Teleological Argument have?
Nature provides seamless evidence, suggesting preparation in connection with scientific laws.
How do analogies support the Teleological Argument?
They help us connect familiar concepts to the unfamiliar, making the argument easier to understand.
What is a weakness of design arguments related to natural evil?
If God is omniscient, why does He allow sin and natural disasters that ruin His creation?
What challenge does evolution pose to the Teleological Argument?
If God can guide evolution, why can’t He do it instantly?
What is a critique regarding the identity of the designer?
The designer may not be the God of Christianity, leaving room for interpretation.
What is John Stuart Mill’s challenge to the Design Argument?
He argues that finding a watch does not imply design, as it could have been placed there by a man.
What is David Hume’s stance on inductive arguments?
He believed that knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses and criticized the evidence used in design arguments.
What does Hume say about the nature of the world and its design?
He argues that our limited knowledge of the world leads to assumptions about a designer.
How does Hume criticize the analogy of God as a watchmaker?
He states that animals function differently than machines, challenging the idea of a perfect designer.
What is Hume’s critique of the Cosmological Argument?
He argues that we cannot know every event must have a cause, challenging the basis of causality.
What is the fallacy of composition according to Hume?
He critiques the assumption that because some ideas are true, the whole basis must be true.
What contradiction does Hume highlight regarding God and negativity in the world?
He questions how a perfect God can allow so much negativity, suggesting a contradiction in the arguments.
