Existence of God - Based on Observation Part 2

Question 1

William Temples objection to Aquinas? (Quote)

Answer 1

• ‘It is impossible to imagine infinite regress but it is not impossible to conceive it’
• Infinite regress is logically possible despite it being hard to understand
• Square circle doesn’t exist as the two words contradict each other, infinite and regress do not
• Because I cannot imagine 5 or 6 dimensions it could still logically exist, mathematicians do multi-dimensional geometry without drawing diagrams or even imagining them

Question 2

What is Gottfried Willhelm Leibniz’s view?

Answer 2

• Universe is harmonious as a whole, which is essentially good
• God as the ultimate explanation for the universe - sustains and holds the world in loving embrace
• God created this world for a particular reason as the best of all possible worlds
• God really explains the universe

Question 3

How does Voltaire oppose Leibniz’s view?

Answer 3

• Foolishness of assuming explanations
• Refers to the Lisbon Earthquake on all saints day, killing tens of thousands accompanied by a tsunami

Question 4

What principle does Leibniz adopt? (Quote)

Answer 4

• The principle of sufficient reason
• “There has to be a sufficient reason for Gods choice”
• Assumes that the universe is rational and open to human intelligence to understand
• In principle everything has an explanation and can be sufficiently explained

Question 5

What are the 3 explanations Leibniz uses?

Answer 5

1) For any entity that exists there is sufficient reason to explain its existence
2) For every event, there is a sufficient reason to explain the occurrence of the event
3) For every sentence that is true, there is sufficient explanation for why it is true

Question 6

How does F.C Copplestone use the explanation of sufficient reason in his radio debate with Bertrand Russel? (Quote)

Answer 6

“In order to explain existence, we must come to a being which contains within itself the reason for its own existence” - Copplestone uses sufficient reason to explain God’s existence.

Question 7

What is Hume’s ‘fallacy of composition’ ? (Include how Bertrand Russel uses this)

Answer 7

• The fallacy is the assumption that because something is true of parts, exactly the same must be true of the whole
• Russel suggests we cannot go from saying mankind has a mother to the assumption that the universe has to
• Psychological fact of how we wish there to be an explanation but we cannot go from desire for something to be the case to the idea that it must be the case

Question 8

What is the problem with using God as a stopping point for the explanation?

Answer 8

• How does God explain the empty and barren universe, creation of mosquitos and giving life to evil men and women?
• To answer these questions we need to know the mind of God, something religious people say is a mystery that we shall never know

Question 9

What is the problem with using God as an explanation in general?

Answer 9

• An explanation must explain something and be coherent
• If I cannot understand the explanation then then is it even an explanation?
• No better than claiming that ‘it is a mystery’

Question 10

What is Russels suggestion about the universe?

Answer 10

‘the universe just is’
- Just because the idea of us being a result of random chance makes us uncomfortable, it does not make it invalid
- Just because we find this idea unpalatable does not mean itself that the unpalatable is an error

Question 11

What is D.Z Phillips belief in the concept of religion? (Quote)

Answer 11

• “religion must remain, in a way I try to make clear, without explanation”
• Seeking an explanation of God was a mistaken enterprise