Hume (his Critisisms)

Question 1

Why does Hume claim that the use of analogy’s in this instance is a weak form of reasoning? 3 reasons

Answer 1

• the universe could have been created by many Gods, like a ship would be as this is a big piece of machinery( just as the universe is colossal), whereas a watch is small and could be made by one person.
• the universe is not like a machine, it is more appropriate to compare it to a living organism which is growing and changing
• the idea of a mechanical designer implies an anthropomorphic concept of God

Question 2

How does Hume criticise the religious worth of the design argument?

Answer 2

He says that the possibility of a designer does not point to ‘God’

Question 3

Why does the possibility of a designer not necessarily point to a God? 3 reasons

Answer 3

• The universe could have been created by many gods
• Some of the design is faulty, so the designer could be immoral- this is not in keeping with a benevolent God
• could be seen as a first attempt of an infant deity who then abandoned it

Question 4

How can the fallacy of composition be applied

Answer 4

Just because the thing inside of the universe seem to have a purpose, this does not imply that the universe itself has a designer

Question 5

Explain the epicurean hypothesis

Answer 5

An Ancient Greek idea that if, given infinite time and infinite combinations, the universe would have come into existence at some point anyway

Question 6

Why does Hume argue that the universe came into existence by pure chance?

Answer 6

Random events occur but order tends to impose itself eventually. All that order and regularity point to is the fact that there is order and regularity within the universe. It does not follow that a designer imposed this