The Design Argument Flashcards

1
Q

what does the design argument attempt to do?

A

prove the existence of God by reference to the process of creation

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2
Q

The design argument is one based on cause and effect, give one example of causes and effects in the world, which could only have been caused by an intelligent designer

A
cause= phenomena within the universe that appear to be designed
effect= perfectly adapted creations which fulfil their function
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3
Q

An analogy can be drawn between the works of humans design and the works of nature, (which suggest the same cause and effect), why is this?

A

design by humans also leads to a function or purpose and the works of nature are far greater than the works of humanity- therefore an infinitely greater designer must exist who created the world

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4
Q

who wrote “i am not postulating a “God of the gaps”, a god merely to explain the things which science has not yet explained”

A

Richard Swinburne

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5
Q

Is the design argument a posteriori or a priori

A

a posteriori

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6
Q

what does a posteriori mean?

A

uses empirical evidence from observation of the world

world seems perfectly designed to fulfil a function

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7
Q

what is an analogical argument?

A

argument based on similarities

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8
Q

what does inductive mean?

A

an argument based on premises and conclusions

e.g. the world shows order therefore it must have a designer

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9
Q

what is the first form of the argument for design which is analogical?

A

draws an analogy between the world, and its parts, and objects of human design

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10
Q

what is the second form of the design argument which is inductive?

A

that the world demonstrates regular order and motion in parts and as a whole

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11
Q

what are the five crucial features which indicate the existence of an intelligent designer?

A

order- operates in a regular way
benefit- universe provides for all necessary life
purpose- objects in the universe work towards an end or purpose
suitability for human life- universe provides the right environment for human life
appearance- beauty in nature which is not necessary for human life

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12
Q

which of Aquinas’s ways proved the existence of God?

A

fifth way

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13
Q

In which book did Aquinas write his five ways?

A

summa theologica

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14
Q

Aquinas argued that there is beneficial order in the universe i.e. things in the universe (which do not have intelligence) work towards the end of purpose. How does this provide evidence for the existence of God?

A

There are objects in the universe (which do not have intelligence) work towards an end or purpose which could not happen by chance. Therefore, they must must be directed by something which does have intelligence. god

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15
Q

Teleological Argument means what in Greek?

A

means purpose or end

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16
Q

what does the empirical nature of the universe mean?

A

using evidence gained from the senses (e.g. touch sight)

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17
Q

Kant based his argument on the empirical nature of the universe
the actions of the universe and its inhabitants could not be explained by the universe itself, therefore, what is the most likely reason for these things?

A

an intelligent designer- God

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18
Q

Paley most well known for which analogy?

A

watch analogy

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19
Q

Paley compared the world to a watch because the world work is like a machine why?

A

because all of its parts work towards the benefit of the whole

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20
Q

what four things does a watch have which the world also has?

A

purpose
works in a specific way
has regularity
has order

21
Q

Paley’s watch analogy argues that there is a designer but what does it not tell us about the designer?

A

the nature of the designer= strength

22
Q

Swinburne argued that there is “regularity of co-presence” what does this mean?

A

everything in the universe works together in an orderly way

23
Q

Swinburne argued that the universe fits perfectly for the development of humans and contains everything necessary for human survival, we would expect this from a what?

A

a loving creator

24
Q

what were some of Swinburne’s seven features which increased the likelihood of the universe being designed?

A
the existence of the universe
The existence of order in the universe
The existence of consciousness
Human opportunities to be moral
Miracles and religious experiences
25
Q

Swinburne argued that it is possible that God created the laws which govern natural selection because…..

A

humans and animals would evolve through them

26
Q

Swinburn put forward “regularity of succession”, what does this mean?

A

The orderly pattern of the universe is very simple

27
Q

Swinburn put forward “perspective of possibility”, what does this mean?

A

The easiest and most simple explanation for the universe is that it has cosmic designer

28
Q

what is the aesthetic principle?

A

beauty in The world is proof of intelligent design

29
Q

F.R.Tennant argued that the existence of an intelligent designer is found in beauty this is called what?

A

The aesthetic principle

30
Q

Tennant argued that the world is more than just orderly, it possesses natural beauty beyond what?

A

what is necessary to live

31
Q

what is the anthropic principle?

A

the argument that the world was deigned to support human life

32
Q

John Polkinghorne argued that the beauty of natural laws, suggests that natural laws did not just happen by chance. what year was Polkinghone born?

A

1930

33
Q

Polkinghorne said God interacts with creation by “conducting the improvised performance of the universe”, what does this mean?

A

the universe is not fixed and unchanging

34
Q

Polkinghorne argued that the very existence and nature of the physical universe is proof of a designer, what is this principle called?

A

the anthropic principle

35
Q

Stephen Hawking’s argued that evolution could allow for the existence of God as an intelligent designer because……

A

Ever louche and could be the mechanism through which God’s creation took place

36
Q

there are two main weaknesses of the design argument is the human notion of design, what does this mean? and what is the other one?

A

humans did not creat the universe so we cannot know that it was designed
why is there an assumption that the universe works in an orderly way

37
Q

David Hume argued that Paley’s watch analogy was understand why was this?

A

We have no certain knowledge of the universe like we do of a watch

38
Q

David Hume argued that the universe with unique therefore it could not be compared to what?

A

A watch- Paley’s analogy

39
Q

what does anthropomorphism mean?

A

Attributes and characteristics to concepts, objects or other animals

40
Q

Hume said it was wrong to give God the qualities of anthropomorphism, what does this mean?

A

God is given qualities and characteristics which are identified with those of humans- this limits his power (by comparing him to humans)

41
Q

Hume argues that if the world was designed it was designed…

A

very poorly, because no supreme designer would creat a universe with so much suffering

42
Q

what did Hume quote about the world being disorderly

A

“The world is very faulty and imperfect… It is the work only of some inferior deity”

43
Q

Charles Darwin offered an alternative explanation of the universe what is this called?

A

Theory of evolution

44
Q

Charles Darwin proposed three reasons which proved that the design argument was wrong, what were these three arguments

A

Life developed in evolutional the steps
Living things change and adapt to fit the environment therefore the environment was not made by God for living things
There is too much suffering in the natural world for a loving God to have existed

45
Q

Richard Dawkins a British evolutionary used three reasons to criticise the design argument, what were these?

A

The universe involved as a series of chances
Universe does not show purpose
Creation has nothing to do with God we are just lucky to be here

46
Q

what did Dawkins say about the matter of our luck at being here

A

“We are so grotesquely lucky to be here”

47
Q

J.S.Mill argued that there is too much evil and suffering in the world for there to be a God. What did he say about God if he exists and allows suffering

A

he is either limited in power or not all-loving

48
Q

what can be concluded from the design argument?

A

despite existing for thousands of years there is no actual proof and is based on many assumptions. only succeeds in proving the universe is probably ordered so may have been designed