the design argument Flashcards

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1
Q

what kind of argument is the design argument

A
  • a posteriori
  • inductive
  • analogical
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2
Q

what is Paley’s watch analogy

A
  • when walking along, stubbing your toe against a rock wuld not raise the question of how it became to be there unlike a watch
  • observation would point to the watch’s complexity
  • this could not have occured by chance, an intelligent watchmaker must have designed it
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3
Q

what are the examples Paley uses to support his argument

A
  • the eye is superbly adapted for vision
  • the fins and gills of fish are perfect for living in water
  • bird’s bones, wings and feathers are perfect for flight
  • there is regularity in the universe of planetary orbits and on earth of the seasons
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4
Q

what are humes two criticisms of the design argument

A
  • rejection of the idea of design
  • the watchmaker analogy is anthropomorphic
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5
Q

what is humes rejection of the idea of design

A
  • watchmaker analogies are innapropriate as they are deliberately chosen to encourage the idea of a designer
  • living organisms like vegetables would be more acceptable as they do not require a designer
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6
Q

what is humes criticism that design arguments are anthropomorphic

A
  • humans have no knowledge of how universes are made
  • the designer is not necessarily the god of Christian monotheism
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7
Q

weaknesses of the design argument

A
  • claims made by theism about the nature of a designer God go way beyond the evidence
  • problem of evil suggests an incompetent, malevolent or indifferent designer
  • universe could have designed itself by chance
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8
Q

strengths of the design argument

A
  • swinburne argued that the existence of a single omnipotent god is the simplest explanation
  • paley says evil may be unavoidable for god to bring about good
  • evolution requires explanation
  • anthropic principle
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9
Q

arguments why the design argument cannot offer proof of god

A
  • only deductive arguments can give absolute proof. the design argument is inductive
  • paleys observations to support his argument can be explained naturally, gravity explains the regular rotation of the planets
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10
Q

arguments that the design argument does offer proof of god

A
  • most things we accept to be true are based on inductive arguments
  • the laws of nature require an explanation
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11
Q

why does the design argument have value for religious faith

A
  • it is consistent with biblical teaching that there
    is a guiding hand directing nature
  • shows faith to be reasonable
  • belief that, belief in
    • paleys argument gives evidence to support
      belief that god exists
    • his description of the universe supports
      belief in god
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12
Q

why doesnt the design argument have value for religious faith

A
  • fideists believe that rational arguments have no part to play in faith
  • Paley’s argument doesnt successfully address the issue of evil
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