The use of analogy in design arguments Flashcards
What is the role of analogy in providing a best explanation style argument?
A crucial pillar and strength of design arguments is their use of analogy
When we cannot directly observe the cause of something, analogy allows us to infer the cause by comparing it to something similar that we can explain, making it empirically valid and reasonable.
How is analogy used in scientific practice?
A crucial pillar and strength of design arguments is their use of analogy
Scientists use analogy by testing hypotheses on analogous subjects (e.g., testing drugs on animals) to predict similar effects in humans, illustrating the empirical validity of analogical reasoning.
What does Swinburne say about arguments by analogy?
A crucial pillar and strength of design arguments is their use of analogy
Swinburne claims that arguments by analogy are “common in scientific inference,” suggesting that if we know X is caused by Z, we can reliably infer that something similar to X is caused by something similar to Z.
Why is analogy important in scientific inference?
A crucial pillar and strength of design arguments is their use of analogy
Analogy is important in scientific inference because it allows scientists to make reasonable predictions about unobservable phenomena based on observed similarities, enhancing our understanding and guiding further research.
What is Hume’s critique of analogical arguments for design?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume argues that it doesn’t follow from the similarity of two effects that they must have had similar causes. Similar effects (like the smoke from fire and dry ice) can have very different causes, so the complexity and purpose in the universe doesn’t necessarily indicate a designer like in man-made objects.
Why does Hume believe the analogy between natural things and man-made things might be flawed?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume suggests that even if natural things and man-made things appear analogous, their origins could be vastly different. The creation of the universe might be fundamentally different from the creation of man-made objects like houses or watches.
What example does Hume use to illustrate his critique of analogical reasoning?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume uses the example of smoke produced by fire and dry ice, which are similar effects with very different causes, to argue that similar effects do not necessarily imply similar causes.
How does Hume’s critique challenge design arguments about the universe?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume’s critique challenges design arguments by suggesting that the complexity and purpose observed in the universe do not necessarily imply a designer, as the universe’s cause might be radically disanalogous to anything we know from human experience.
Why does Hume believe we cannot claim an analogy between the origin of anything in the universe and the origin of the universe itself?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume argues that the creation of the universe is so far beyond our understanding that it may be unlike the creation of anything within the universe, making it impossible to reliably draw an analogy between them
What does Hume argue about the analogy between artifacts and natural objects?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume argues that we cannot claim an analogy between artifacts and natural objects because artifacts are mechanical with precise designs, while the universe appears more organic and chaotic, lacking the same mathematical precision.
How does Hume’s critique affect the validity of design arguments for the universe?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume’s critique undermines design arguments by asserting that the creation of the universe may be fundamentally different from the creation of anything within the universe, and that the universe itself appears more organic and chaotic compared to the precise design of artifacts.
What is the impact of Hume’s view on the analogy between the universe and man-made objects?
Weakness: Hume’s objection to analogy in design argument
Hume’s view suggests that the analogy between the universe and man-made objects, like watches or houses, is flawed because the universe’s organic and chaotic nature differs significantly from the mechanical precision of human artifacts.
Why is Hume’s criticism of design arguments considered unsuccessful by some modern philosophers?
Evaluation defending the design argument
Some modern philosophers argue that Hume’s criticism is unsuccessful because Paley’s argument is not based on an analogy between man-made artifacts and the universe. Instead, Paley argues that the presence of complexity and purpose in natural objects, like the human eye, necessitates a designer, irrespective of any analogy to man-made objects.
How does Paley argue for the existence of a designer for the universe?
Evaluation defending the design argument
Paley argues that the presence of complexity and purpose in natural objects, such as the human eye, suggests the existence of a designer. He contends that the intricate arrangement of parts to achieve a specific function cannot be the result of chance, but rather indicates the work of a designing mind.
What property does Paley argue requires a designer for the universe?
Evaluation defending the design argument
Paley argues that the property of complexity and purpose, where complex parts are fitted together to perform a specific function, necessitates a designer. This property is observed in both man-made artifacts and natural objects, providing evidence for a designing mind behind the universe.
