Inductive Arguments

Question 1

The Design/ Teleological Argument

Answer 1

The aim to demonstrate that the existence of God is valid.
Aquinas- there is order and purpose in the universe, there is an intelligent being that directs everyone.
Paley - watch analogy, God is omniscient.
Tennant - anthropic and aesthetic principles

Telos = end/purpose

Question 2

The Cosmological Argument

Answer 2

Cosmos= relating to the world or universe

Aquinas - unmoved mover, uncaused cause & the possible and necessary. - explains existence of everything

Kalam Argument - explains existence of the universe - Al-Kindi and Al-Ghazali
William Lane Craig - modern version of Kalam

Question 3

Inductive Arguments

Answer 3

The matters of fact are contingent and could have been otherwise.

Question 4

Criticisms of Design Argument

Answer 4

David Hume - even if we grant the analogy, we cannot establish anything on the basis of it. This argument can not be used to prove existence of God.
Darwin - evolution can account for the appearance of design, without positing a designer.

Question 5

Criticisms of the Cosmological Argument

Answer 5

David Hume - inductive arguments work with ‘casual relations’, they are matters of fact. Billiard ball example.
There is no need for a cause.
A ‘necessary’ being has no consistent meaning.
Bertrand Russell - the universe is ‘self-coherent’ and does not need external explanation.