PADA: its basis in observation

Question 1

what type of argument is PADA, and what does this mean?

Answer 1

PADA is a posteriori, which means that it is based on sense exp - we observe the world through sense, and we can draw conclusions from what these senses tell us

Question 2

which type of reasoning does PADA use?

Answer 2

inductive reasoning - where we use premises to supply strong evidence for the truth of the conclusion

Question 3

what three observations about the world is PADA based on?

Answer 3

the world’s:

• complexity: e.g complexity of biological organisms and organs such as the eye, complexity of the laws of nature
• regularity: particularly the regularity of the orbits of comets, moons and planets and the regularity of the seasons
• purpose: paley observes the machines that we make and infers that they are built for a purpose. complexity and regularity of a machine such as a watch implies purpose, therefore the c+r of the universe implies purpose

Question 4

summary of the paley’s inductive ADA?

Answer 4

1) some objects in the world show clear evidence that they were designed because they exhibit c+r, from which we can infer that they were made for a purpose
2) the universe appears to exhibit c+r, from which we can infer that it was made for a purpose
3) so it is likely that the universe was designed

paley argues inductively from what we can see in the world (an appearance of design) back to the supposed cause (God)