Criticisms of arguments

Question 1

What are the criticisms of the Ontological argument?

Answer 1

1. The same argument can be used for ‘the perfect island’, which would mean that the perfect island would exist, as well as countless other ‘perfect’ objects.
   - Anselm rejected this
   criticism, saying that an
   island is a limited thing,
   and that there can
   always be a better
   island.
2. The argument assumes that a being that exists is greater than a being that doesn’t.

Question 2

What are the criticisms of the Teleological argument?

Answer 2

1. Evolution: Living things contain design because of natural selection.
2. It assumes that the designer is God. The designer might not be omnipotent but still could have designed the universe.

Question 3

What are the criticisms of the cosmological argument?

Answer 3

The cosmological argument assumes that there can’t be an infinite series of causes and effects. The universe could have always existed.

Question 4

What are the criticisms of the moral argument?

Answer 4

1. It either (i) assumes that there are objective moral principles or (ii) that atheists are immoral.
i. Morality is not
necessarily objective,
different people have
different values.
ii. Atheist can still believe
in morals such as the
innate human dignity.
Even if they didn’t, acting
bad will lead to people
treating you worse.

2. If God sets the moral guidelines, then we only follow them because God tells us to and not because they are good. If instead God does not create morality, then morality must control God since he is omnibenevolent, but this would mean he isn’t omnipotent.

Question 5

What are the criticisms of the Augustinean theodicy?

Answer 5

1. It only explains moral evil, not natural evil.
2. It says that humans were created perfect but also witht the capacity to sin, which is impossible.

Question 6

What are the criticisms of the Iraneaen theodicy.

Answer 6

1. It suggests that people can do evil, since it helps other people grow.
2. God could have made humans morally perfect instead of making them imperfect so that they could become perfect.