The Existence of God: arguments based on observation

Question 1

What are the two different kinds of arguments about the existence of God

Answer 1

• arguments based on observation
• arguments based on reason

Question 2

What are the main arguments based on observation?

Answer 2

the teleological argument - based on design or the apparent order of the universe
the cosmological argument- percieved general quality

Question 3

What is the main argument based on reason?

Answer 3

the ontological argument- relating to the metaphysics or existence of

Question 4

What is Aquinas’ Fifth Way ?

Answer 4

takes over from Artistotle’s final cause saying that everything as a telos (goal or an end)
purpose comes from God, less focus on the way things fit together and more so on what they are for

Question 5

Criticism of Fifth way - Aquinas

Answer 5

Does everything actually have a purpose? Biology tells us some things have no purpose at all

Do we give things purpose?
Purpose implies a mental state, that inanimate objects lack, so how can they have purpose unless we as humans give it purpose?

‘Or nearly always’ - Aquinas is hesistant. Surely if there was a purpose for EVERYTHING, there would always be one.

What about things that have no good purpose e.g. nettles that sting us, if we find purpose in them by making soup that is not the nettle having purpose in itself

Question 6

What is Paley’s design argument?

Answer 6

• mechanical model
• the complexity of the human brain where millions of cells coordinate together
• regularity of the world surely points to design, and hence a designer

Question 7

What comments does Paley add to his watch analogy?

Answer 7

• the analogy is still valid if we had never seen a watch, it is so complex compared to the rock it must have a origin
• even if the watch is imperfect it has enough design to assume there is a designer
• even if the function of some parts was unknown there is stil a designer

Question 7

What is the Paley’s watch analogy?

Answer 7

• Walking in the wilderness comes upon a rock, can naturally account for its existence
• Instead, comes upon a watch which cannot be accounted for naturally
• Design could not have come about by chance
• There must be a designer

Question 8

What are some of Hume’s ideas that counter Paley’s?(written over 20 years before though)

Answer 8

1. aptness of analogy
2. epicurean thesis
3. argument from effect to cause

Question 9

Expand on Hume’s aptness of analogy

Answer 9

-It is unrealistic to compare the natural world to a machine
-A cabbage is desgined and fit for purpose, but doesnt have a cabbage maker
Choosing the machine suggests thinkers like Paley have alsready assumed the conclusion and determined the result they want

Question 10

Expand on Hume’s use of Epicurean thesis

Answer 10

Theory that the universe is made of a finite number of particles in infinite time
Apparent order can be randomly explained
e.g. old tale of monkeys in a room full of typewriters being able to type every combination of writing from the Bible to Shakespeare

Question 11

Expand on Hume’s concept of effect to cause to criticise paley

Answer 11

cannot go from evidence in the natural world to assuming that an all-loving eternal God created it

e.g. set of scales, the lighter which we can see and the heavier which we cannot, the one that is lighter is in the air but we cannot assume to know what is causing the other one to be heavier