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Religious Studies > Philosophy: Arguments for the existence of God > Flashcards

Philosophy: Arguments for the existence of God Flashcards

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1
Q

Is the Design argument a priori or a posteriori?

A

A posteriori

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2
Q

Is the Design argument from natural theology or fideism?

A

Natural Theology

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3
Q

What type of reasoning does the Design argument use?

A

Inductive

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4
Q

3 key terms from the Design argument

A

Teleological
Analogy
Inference

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5
Q

Who came up with the Analogical argument?

A

William Paley

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6
Q

What are Paleys observations? 3

A

Complexity
Regularity
Purpose

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7
Q

What are key terms to describe Paley’s observations?

A

Empirical
Inductive
Synthetic
A posteriori

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8
Q

Describe Paley observations: Complexity

A

Not simple, contain many parts. He looks at the complexity of the biological organisms and organs eg. the eye.

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9
Q

Describe Paley observations: Regularity

A

Paley observes in particular the regularity of the orbit of the comets, moons, planets and seasons of the year. Things are ordered nor chaotic.

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10
Q

Describe Paley observations: Purpose

A

Teleological and rules out chance. Paley observes the machines that we make and infers they’re built for a purpose.

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11
Q

Link the 3 marks of design

A

The complexity and regularity of the universe implies it has a purpose, even if we don’t know what it is.

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12
Q

What are Paley’s examples?

A

Fish have fins and gills meaning they’re perfectly adapted for living underwater.
Eye is adapted for vision with all the right parts in the right places.
Birds wings are also well adapted for their function.

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13
Q

What is Paley’s analogy?

A
  1. A watch has complex parts, each with a specific function and the parts work together for a specific purpose.
  2. So the watch must be designed by a watchmaker.
  3. Similarly the universe has part that function together for a specific purpose.
  4. So the universe must of been designed by a universe maker.
  5. The universe is a far more wonderous design than a watch so it’s designer is much greater than any human designer.
  6. The universe designer must be God.
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14
Q

What is an anology?

A

When meaning/information is transferred from one thing to another.

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15
Q

What is Paley’s argument?

A

Observe and infer rather than directly see. From purpose and regularity we observe in nature, we can conclude that these were the intention of God.

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16
Q

Why is Paley’s argument teleological?

A

The argument stems from a purpose as telos means ends or purpose.

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17
Q

Paley quote

A

Like effects have like causes

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18
Q

What is the appearance of design?

A

Just cause it appears designed doesn’t mean it is. It may be fake but we can’t compare it eg. universe to anything.

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19
Q

Who believes in the appearance of design?

A

Richard Dawkins who is an evolutionnary biologist.

20
Q

What is the Anthropic principle?

A

It’s cosmically fine tuned. The probability of design is 99.99999% therefore logically there is a designer.

21
Q

What is the Goldilocks enigma?

A

Paul Davies wrote that the universe is just right. Futher explains the probable existance of a designer due to how perfect it is for human survival and flourishing.

22
Q

Critisms of the Design argument?

A

Problems
Illogical
Unreasonable
Alternative explanations
Limits

23
Q

What is a weakness of an inductive argument?

A

Never compelling and can always come to different conclusions.

24
Q

Quotes about design?

A

“The marks of design are too strong. Design must have had a designer. That designer is God.”
“Every maifestation of design which existed in the watch exists in the works of nature.”

25
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Simpliest explanation

A

The all-powerful God of the Bible is the simpliest explanation. Richard Swinburne supports this point as he argues God is a simplier and therefore better explanation. He says “simplicity is always evidence for truth.”

26
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Evil is unavoidable

A

Evil is unavoidable for God to bring about God. The free will defence supports this point and maintains that if humans have free will then evil is inevitable. Evil can be seen to have logical and practical necessity. The soul making defense theory argues that evil allows humans to morally develop towards perfection.

27
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Evolution

A

Evolution doesn’t destroy the argument as evolution doesn’t expain itself and it is compatible with the belief of God.
Dawkins Blind watchmaker explains nothing since evolution is regulated by the laws of physics, biology and chemistry and these laws do not explain themselves.

28
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Metaphyscial and transendence.

A

Whilst Paley is an 18th century philospher his conclusion the designer is a metaphysical and transcendent being seems reasonable. The laws of nature govern science and these can only come from an external source eg.God. The designer must be metaphysical as it would be impossible to design the world from inside it.

29
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Inductive and a posteriori argument

A

Its both the simpliest and most reasonable argument. Its inductive and a posteriori therefore based on observation and evidence. Even Kant who didn’t accept the argument agreed its a powerful argument.

30
Q

Strengths of Paley’s Design argument: Anthropic principle

A

Supported by the Anthropic principle which is a modern design argument. It argues through physics that the universe is ordered and fine tuned for intelligent life to develop. The odds against boundary conditions mean there is a 99% chance of design. Goldilocks enigma.

31
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Simpliest explanation

A

Even if teh universe is designed the argument is limited to what is proves. There is no evidence that the God of the Bible is the designer. The God of theism is a greater cause than is needed to account for design in the world. The designer could be anything and there could be multiple.

32
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Evil

A

Existence of evil is a strong argument against an all-loving and all-powerful designer. Why would such a powerful God create such a fragile universe?

33
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Vegetable

A

The universe is more like a vegetable than machine and vegetables don’t need designers they grow themselves. This is backed by the theory of evolution. Dawkins states that Paley was gloriously wrong and if indeed there is a watchmaker it is evolution.Dawkins speaks of a blind watchmaker and that the universe has no purpose or plan.

34
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Anthropomorphic principle

A

We have no experience of universe making so our ideas are anthropomorphic. We lift our ideas from our own limited experience and impose them on the universe. Kant agreed and said that we impose order on the world. Design is in our minds not in the world.

35
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Appearance

A

Nature can design itself and evolutionary points support this. The Epicurean hypothesis and Multiverse theory support the idea that it was inevitable that the universe would eventually order itself. Order can come from chaos and these theories account for the appearance of design.

36
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Anthropic principle

A

AJ Ayer says we have nothing to compare our world to. It may appear designed but we have no way of knowing. The Anthropic principle is weak we are finely tuned for the universe not the other way around.

37
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Like effects do not have like causes

A

A cause must be proportional to its effect. Paley infers there is an all-loving designer (God) but this is out of proportion to the evidence. If there was a designer there is no evidence it was the God of the Bible, it may be a limited designer.

38
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Epicurean hypothesis

A

Chance rather than design called the Epicurean hypothesis. The world consists of indivisble atoms, given infinite time it was inevitable these atoms would order themselves which accounts for the appearance of design.

39
Q

Weaknesses of Paley’s Design argument: Multiverse theory

A

There are multiple universes and by chance some will be ordered and then life becomes inevitable. This supports the idea we can explain the universe without a God.

40
Q

Is the Cosmological argument a priori or a posteriori?

A

A Posteriori

41
Q

Is the Cosmological argument from natural theology or fideism?

A

Natural Theology

42
Q

What observations is the Cosmological argument based on?

A

Observations of the cosmos

43
Q

What does the Cosmological argument focus on?

A

Cause and Effect with an emphasis on motion.

44
Q

What is motion?

A

The movement of a thing from one place to another.

45
Q

What does the Cosmological argument question?

A

Whether the universe is contigent or necessary.

46
Q

What does the universe have to come from?

A

It has to come from something as something can’t come from nothing.

47
Q

What is an infinite regress?

A

A series of appropriately related elements with a first member but no last member, where each element leads to or generates the next in some sense.

Religious Studies (5 decks)

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