Arguments for the existence of God

Question 1

What is the Design Argument’s observations?

Answer 1

Inductive (strong ev) (prob)
Three observations:
Complexity (eye) , Regularity (ecosystems) and Purpose

Question 2

Paley’s analogy?

Answer 2

Designer of a watch similar to world having designer
(both complex, regular and purpose)
“designed its use” “for a purpose”

Question 3

Strengths of Paley’s DA?

Answer 3

Simplest explanation/poss explanation
Evolution does not destroy argument: compatible with God
‘nature shows intention’ support anthropic principle (not accident)

Question 4

Paley’s anticipated objections?

Answer 4

Watch broken - if broken watch still designed

Principle of order just happens - nonsense of course watch maker

Question 5

Hume’s objections to Paley?

Answer 5

Analogies - world a machine are unsound - anthropomorphism
Cannot imagine God as a human designer
Developed by chance - ‘epicurean hypothesis’ atoms ordered
God limited designer/infant/teamwork “some inferior deity”

Question 6

What does Hume say Quote?

Answer 6

Epicurus still unanswered “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?”

Question 7

When was Hume writing?

Answer 7

Before Paley - preempted

Question 8

Weaknesses of DA?

Answer 8

assumption

Dawkins - “blind watchmaker” natural evil

Question 9

Does the DA have value for religious faith?

Answer 9

Supports faith by reasoning
Strengthens already existing faith
Empirical evidence - order, regularity

Question 10

How does the DA have no value for religious faith?

Answer 10

Faith not depend on probability/ state of mind

Question 11

What is the cosmological argument Aquinas Way 3?

Answer 11

Aquinas Way 3
inductive
- senses verify observation/existence
-observation of all things as contingent
- necessary - God
“must exist something…which is necessary”

Question 12

What is the Fallacy of Composition?

Answer 12

Inferring something of whole from truth of part of whole

Question 13

What does Russell say Aquinas Way 3 is?

Answer 13

Commits Fallacy of Composition
Aquinas - events cause universe cause
Russell - events cause universe uncaused
However - bricks small - whole wall not small

Question 14

What did Copleston say in the debate?

Answer 14

Jesuit preist
reformulated Aquinas
things contingent and something must be necessary
cause of universe is the necessary being - God

Question 15

What did Russell say in the debate?

Answer 15

• Agnostic position
• Dismisses Aquinas and notion of necessary being
• Regress of causal events cannot be held responsible
• universe “brute fact” w/ no explanation self coherent

Question 16

2 Quotes from Russell abour causal events.

Answer 16

“concept of cause is not applicable to total”

“Should say that the universe is just there, and that’s all”

Question 17

What does Copleston say in return to Russell?

Answer 17

• can’t shut down debate

- “If one refused to sit at a chess board… one cannot of course be checkmated”

Question 18

What is the Cosmological Argument?

Answer 18

Argument in observation
has to be a “first cause” at end of infinite regress
God = uncaused cause
dependent on existence of other

Question 19

1. What does Hume assume? (Cosmological Argument)

Answer 19

That Aquinas’ claim is not logically necessary and is a leap

Can only say something is ture - empirical evidence

Question 20

2. What is Aquinas’ reply to Hume?

Answer 20

Aquinas does not claim that ‘God exists’

He claims his existence ‘metaphysically’ necessary

Question 21

3. Hume’s response to Aquinas.

Answer 21

Universe is “necessarily existent being”
conforms w/ Occam’s Razor
ANSLEM “Why may not the materialuniverse be the necessarily…”

Question 22

4. Aquinas’ second reply.

Answer 22

No problem with matter being necessary

God still uncaused cause

Question 23

How strong of a ‘proof’ is the cosmological argument?

Answer 23

• strengthen existing faith/ conform theist belief
• possible explanation
• ‘brute fact’ unsatisfactory for curious mind

Question 24

What does Gerry Hughes say? (CA)

Answer 24

proving sub atomic particles exist - unreasonable believe do not exist
same for God as an unobservable identity

Question 25

What is the Ontological Argument?

Answer 25

• Better to exist in reality than in mind alone

- A priori - something knowable w/o sense ex.

Question 26

What does Anslem (OA) say about God?

Answer 26

He is “that which nothing greater can be conceived”

“perfect in every way”

Question 27

What does Anselm (OA) say about fools?

Answer 27

Psalm 14 - “only the fool hath said in his heart that there is no God” still have concept in mind - to reject him

Question 28

What is the First Form in Ontological Argument?

Answer 28

God must exist separate from imagination - in reality

Concept of God must include actual existence

Question 29

What is the Second Form in Ontological Argument w/ Gaunilo’s criticism?

Answer 29

God has necessary existence
Gaunilo mocks Anselm “If you conceive of greatest of anything…must have to exist” Lost Island
Anslem reply - island contingent God not.

Question 30

What does reductio ad absurdummean?

Answer 30

Anslem - Aimed to show God doesn’t exist - demonstrating existence logically necessary.

Question 31

Kant’s criticisms of Anselm.

Answer 31

Directed at Descartes

• Existence is not a predicate (gives no new info) 100 Thalers example
• Only way to know God exits - experience - logic alone gets you no where

Question 32

Biggest Failure of Ontological Argument?

Answer 32

Omits word “if”
Eg. If there are unicorns then they will be hirses w/ horns
If there is a God then God will exist necessarily