Inductive arguments Flashcards
Give a quote on Aquinas’ first way.
“It is necessary to arrive at a first mover; put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.” (Summa Theologica)
Give a quote from Al-Ghazali on cause and effect.
“Every being which begins has a cause for its beginning; now the world is a being which begins; therefore, it possesses a cause for its beginning.” (Incoherence of the Philosophers)
Give the analogy used by William Lane Craig in connection with the Kalam cosmological argument.
“Would we believe someone who told use that the number of red books in the library is the same as the number of red books plus the number of black books?”
Give a quote from William Lane Craig on causality according to the Kalam cosmological argument.
“If the universe began to exist, and the universe is caused, then the cause of the universe must be a personal being who freely chooses to create the world.”
Give a quote on design from Aquinas.
“Whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowned with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is directed by the archer.” (Summa Theologica).
Give a quote from William Paley on earwigs in connection with the teleological argument.
“The hinges in the wings of an earwig, and the joints of its antennae, are as highly wrought, as if the creator has nothing else to finish.” (Natural Theology)
Give a quote from Tennant on the teleological or aesthetic argument.
“The aesthetic argument for theism becomes more presuasive when it renounces all claims to proof and appeals to logical probability.”
Give a quote from Douglas Adams on the Anthropic Principle challenge.
“This is rather as if you imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking ‘This is an interesting world I find myself in- and interesting hole I find myself in- fits me rather neatly doesn’t it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, it must have been made to have me in it!’”
Give a quote on Hume’s fork and meaning.
“Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.” (Treatise of Human Nature)
Give a summary of the two
Give a quote on Hume’s fork on the two categories of human reason.
“All the objects of huamn reason or enquiry may naturally be divided into two kinds, to wit, Relations of ideas, and Matters of fact.” (Treatise of Human Nature)
