design argument

Question 1

who’s argument is the design argument?

Answer 1

William Paley

Question 2

what is a posteriori?

How does this link to Paley’s argument?

Answer 2

• based on sense experience, we observe the world through our 5 senses
• we see evidence of order and purpose in the world

Question 3

what is an inductive argument how does this link the Paley’s argument?

Answer 3

• the premises supply strong evidence for the truth of the conclusion
• there’s evidence in the world which leads it likely God exists

Question 4

what is Paley’s argument based on?

Answer 4

the worlds:

• complexity
• regularity
• its purpose

Question 5

what is Paley’s inductive design argument?

Answer 5

• some objects clearly show evidence of being designed as they hold complexity and regularity
• the universe holds complexity and regularity
• so its likely the universe was designed

Question 6

what does Paley use as an example?

Answer 6

• watch maker analogy

Question 7

what is the watch maker analogy?

Answer 7

• a watch has complex parts
• the watch must’ve been designed
• the universe also has parts that function for a purpose
• therefore the universe must have a maker
• the universe is much greater than a watch so the creator must be all powerful
• the designer is God`

Question 8

what’s Paley’s example of the eye?

Answer 8

• the eye is adapted for vision

- it has all the right parts in the right arrangement to allow this

Question 9

what’s another name for Paley’s argument?

Answer 9

the teleological argument

Question 10

what does Paley mean by design que purpose?

Answer 10

• everything was designed for a purpose

Question 11

how does Paley’s argument allow us to support faith with reasoning?

Answer 11

• God can be seen through observation of nature

- we don’t need revelation to have a belief in God, we can see through nature

Question 12

what is a criticism linking Gods design to a machine?

Answer 12

• it suggests the universe is a sort of machine
• a machine would clearly indicate a maker
• natural things don’t have a maker in the same way a machine does

Question 13

how would Paley respond to the criticism linking the universe to a machine?

Answer 13

• he would use natural examples to indicate design

Question 14

what’s a criticism which suggest infinite possibilities?

Answer 14

• the world seems to have order and stability
• the particles undergo every possible combination
• at least one combination would produce a universe like ours
• there’s infinite amounts of possibilities

Question 15

what would Paley respond to the criticism of their being infinite amounts of possibilities?

Answer 15

• the world has such complexity, there must be a designer

- it couldn’t happen by chance

Question 16

what is the inconsistent triad?

Answer 16

• god is omnipotent
• god is omnibenevolent
• evil exists

Question 17

what is Hume’s criticism of anthropomorphism?

Answer 17

• to compare God to a human designer (watchmaker analogy), only serves to humanise God?
• to know the universe has been designed, we’d need knowledge of how they’re made
• we have no experience

Question 18

how would Paley respond to the criticism of anthropomorphism?

Answer 18

• we have to compare it to human design as we’d have no idea and can’t understand omnipotent design

Question 19

what is design qua regularity?

Answer 19

• regularity and order can be observed in the physical world

Question 20

what are weaknesses of Paley’s design argument?

Answer 20

• the omnipotent Christian God is a greater cause than is needed
• the existence of evil
• theory of evolution, nature designs itself

Question 21

what are strengths of Paley’s design argument?

Answer 21

• the designer is the all powerful Christian God is the simplest explanation
• evil may be unavoidable to bring about good (free will defence)
• evolution is compatible with God
• it is a simple inductive argument