the design argument Flashcards
1
Q
what kind of argument is the design argument
A
- a posteriori
- inductive
- analogical
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
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
4
Q
what are humes two criticisms of the design argument
A
- rejection of the idea of design
- the watchmaker analogy is anthropomorphic
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- paleys argument gives evidence to support
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