Arguments based on observation

Question 1

Aquinas’ second way

Answer 1

Nothing can be the cause of itself, there must be a start point that caused all things, this is God

Question 2

Aquinas’ first way

Answer 2

Everything that moves is moved by something else, a mover must also have a mover, chain of movement cannot be infinite, must be an unmoved mover, this is God

Question 3

Aquinas’ third way

Answer 3

Everything in the world is contingent on something else, if all things are contingent there must have been a time of nothing, there must be a necessary thing that always existed, this is God

Question 4

Principle of sufficient reason

Answer 4

If something exists there must be a reason, if a statement is true there must be a reason, there must be a sufficient reason for the universe existing

Question 5

Inaccuracy of Cause and Effect

Answer 5

we look at events in the world and assume what the cause is. Just because everything in the world has a cause does not mean universe does

Question 6

Fallacy of Composition

Answer 6

Just because parts are true, doesn’t mean its true for the whole thing

Question 7

Inductive leap

Answer 7

Just because the universe has a cause does not mean it is God - there is no extra evidence to prove this

Question 8

Swinburne said

Answer 8

“to have nothing would be a more likely state of affairs”

Question 9

Bertrand Russell said

Answer 9

“the universe is just there and that is it”

Question 10

Aquinas’ Fifth way

Answer 10

Design Qua Regularity - things in universe have a regular pattern that they follow .e.g. changing seasons or planets, they could not have given these to themselves, has to be something out of this universe, that is God.

Question 11

Analogy of archer

Answer 11

Arrow hits target even though it is not intelligent to direct itself, so there must be an archer who shot it

Question 12

Paley’s teleological argument

Answer 12

Design Qua Purpose. Everything in this universe has a purpose to fulfil, some things are too complex to be made by something in this universe, so they must be made by God

Question 13

Watch Analogy

Answer 13

Watch has complex parts, each with their own purpose, watch must be designed by watch maker, universe also has these parts so must be made by a universe maker.

Question 14

5 evidences of design

Answer 14

1. object has specific materials to fulfil a purpose
2. several complex parts
3. works towards a purpose
4. exhibits regular motion to fulfil purpose
5. has parts that are needed or they cannot fulfil purpose.

Question 15

Human eye

Answer 15

Has all evidences of design. Made for vision so was designed by God

Question 16

Hume’s criticism of watch analogy

Answer 16

the 2 things are so different so are incomparable

Question 17

Anthropomorphism

Answer 17

If God is compared to a human designer, he is limited and this makes him more human. He is nothing like us, he is perfect

Question 18

Multiple Gods?

Answer 18

Man things in the universe have multiple designers so the universe could be designed by multiple Gods

Question 19

Atoms

Answer 19

universe is a random association of atoms and they reorganise themselves infinitely and sometimes resemble order. .e.g. spider creates complex webs - doesn’t mean its intelligent

Question 20

Problem of evil

Answer 20

there is evil in the world so how can God be created by a loving and caring God

Question 21

Illusion of Design

Answer 21

Epicurean hypothesis - universe was chaotic but then, overtime, natural forces have ordered themselves. This looks like design but actually isn’t.