Year 12 Philosophy Flashcards
Design Argument: Paley Strengths [P1]
- Simple ~ likely + easy to understand
- Designer beyond universe = reasonable
- Humans eye complicated = provides function to see
Design Argument: Paley Weaknesses [P2]
- No evidence for Classical Theistic God
- Hume ~ analogies do not always work well
- Hume ~ no experience of universe-making
- [Counter = analogies make easier to understand]
Design Argument: Darwin Strengths [P3]
- Strong scientific evidence (e.g., fossils)
- Secular (no belief in God required)
- Christians can add God into process (i.e., he is the ‘driving’ force of why life forms adapt)
Design Argument: Darwin Weaknesses [P4]
- Theory, not fact
- Creationists = science has limitations (cannot tell us the ‘whole concept’)
- Only tells us how the universe was created, not its purpose
- Theories of science can change over time (theory might not be applicable in future)
Cosmological Argument: Aquinas Strengths [P1]
- Intended to show how something causes things to exist (chain of movement etc)
- Supported by inductive scientific arguments
- Good explanation for cause of infinite regress
Cosmological Argument: Aquinas Weaknesses [P2]
- Inductive = probable + no certainty
- Infinite regress = no need for prime mover (better than God as first cause)
- Contradiction (no cause for God)
- No empirical evidence of God as external being
Cosmological Argument: Overall Strengths [P3]
- A posteriori (based on empirical evidence)
- Ockham’s razor (simple + likely)
- [Counter = sensory experiences can deceive us]
- [Counter = “brute fact” ~ sometimes we don’t need an explanation]
Cosmological Argument: Overall Weaknesses [P4]
- No experience of universe-making
- Not logical to endlessly search for origin
- Universe beginning doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a cause
- Not possible to contemplate what exists beyond space and time [Kant Link]
Ontological Argument: Anselm Strengths [P1]
- Forces believer to consider term “God”
- Deductive = no logical error
- Confession of faith
Ontological Argument: Anselm Weaknesses [P2]
- Kant = existence cannot be shown by logic
- Meaningless for non-Christians
- Gaunilo = used for anything (e.g., island)
- [Counter = God is necessary unlike islands]
Ontological Argument: Overall Strengths [P3]
- A priori = simple to understand
- A priori cannot be disproved by science
- Deductive = premises true means conclusion definitely true
- [Counter = premises might not actually be true?]
Ontological Argument: Overall Weaknesses [P4]
- Existence is not a real predicate
- Add/take away existence does not change concept of God
- People can reject definition
- Hume = necessary existence is incoherent
Problem of Evil: FWD Strengths (Augustine) [P1]
- Matches well with the Bible
- Avoids Satan as independent demonic power
- Justifies with Classical Theistic God
Problem of Evil: FWD Weaknesses (Augustine) [P2]
- Fall = literal truth
- Natural evil predates humanity
- Loving God should not punish people
- No justification for sinners suffering
Problem of Evil: Process Strengths (Whitehead) [P3]
- Co-suffering God = personal
- Justification for omnibenevolence
- Inspiring = suffers to make things better
Problem of Evil: Process Weaknesses (Whitehead) [P4]
- Surrenders omnipotence
- No promise of heaven
- Does not defend Classical Theistic God
- Goes against teachings of unchanging nature
Religious Experience: James Strengths [P1]
- Brings psychology (scientific)
- Inclusive of all religions
- Recognises similarities between religions = provides clearer understanding
Religious Experience: James Weaknesses [P2]
- Ineffable = difficult to find true meaning
- Pragmatic = only focuses on outcome
- Psychological not same as religion
- Science + supernatural do no correlate
Religious Experience: Swinburne Strengths (Principle of Credulity and Testimony) [P3]
- Credulity = straightforward, allows individuals to make judgements of validity
- Acknowledges significance (do not doubt people’s accounts easily)
- Intuitive appeal (influences people to trust senses)
Religious Experience: Swinburne Weaknesses [P4]
- People have a good reason to lie
- Not logical to compare with everyday life
- Subjectivity = what’s real to someone may not for other
- Ramachandran + Singer = REs deceive people
