Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Philosophy > Inductive Arguments > Flashcards

Inductive Arguments Flashcards

(75 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is an inductive argument?

A

An argument based on an observation which develops into an assumption that the observation is a regular occurrence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a cosmological argument?

A

Observes and concludes that the best explanation for the universe is God

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a teleological argument?

A

Observes the natural world and concludes that God is the designer and that the world has an end purpose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does ‘telos’ mean?

A

Purpose in Greek

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a posteriori knowledge?

A

Using knowledge derived from observation and experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is Aquinas’ First Way?

A

Change - there must be an efficient cause which moves something from a state of potentiality into a state of actuality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What analogy does Aquinas use for the First Way?

A

A block of marble (potential) requires a sculptor (efficient cause) to become a statue (actual)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is Aquinas’ work called?

A

Summa Theologica

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is Aquinas’ Second Way?

A

Cause - there cannot be an infinite number of causes so there must be an uncaused cause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the analogy for the Second Way?

A

The 1st domino (efficient cause) causes the 2nd domino (intermediate cause) to fall, leading the 3rd domino (ultimate cause) to fall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is Aquinas’ Third Way?

A

Contingency - everything that exists is dependant on something else for existence, there must be something with a necessary existence on which everything else depends

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where does the word ‘kalam’ originate?

A

Arabic ‘to argue’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where does the Kalam Argument originate?

A

al-Kindi and al-Ghazali, 12th Century Arabic thought

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the 1993 Craig version of the Kalam argument?

A

There is no physical explanation for the cause of the universe so it must be a personal one

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What did Craig argue about actual infinity?

A

It cannot exist and so neither can a beginningless temporal series of events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is Craig’s library analogy?

A
  • a library has infinite books
  • it has infinite red books and infinite black books
  • therefore red books = total, and red + black is double the total
  • this is absurd
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is actual infinity?

A

Has no beginning and no end

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is potential infinity?

A

Something that could become infinite with effort applied, e.g. numbers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is Aristotle’s Zeno’s Paradox?

A

If you break down movement into infinite tiny steps, you can never finish the steps and so will never get anywhere - infinity and movement aren’t compatible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are 3 strengths of cosmological arguments?

A
  1. It is easy to understand the concept of things not being able to cause themselves
  2. Infinity is inconceivable
  3. Simple and adaptable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of cosmological arguments?

A
  1. Outdated by science
  2. Jumps from saying God ought to exist to saying he does exist
  3. Only helps people who already have faith
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are Kant’s 2 challenges to cosmological arguments?

A
  • It is wrong to assume the universe is part of a system of cause and effect
  • The concept of a necessary being is illogical and meaningless
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is Kenny’s challenge to cosmological arguments?

A

We can bring ourselves into a state of inertia so we do not needed an unmoved mover

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is Russell’s fallacy of composition?

A

Something that applies to a part does not necessarily apply to the whole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is Swinburne's position on cosmological arguments?
The argument is an inference to the best explanation, making God more probable
26
What was William of Ockham's view on cosmological arguments?
God is a matter of faith, not knowledge and it is possible the world had no beginning
27
In what work did Hume challenge inductive arguments?
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
28
What are Hume's 3 challenges to cosmological arguments?
1. Cause and effect is an assumption, not a certainty 2. We cannot question the universe as we have no experience of anything similar 3. Just because everything in the universe has a cause does not mean the universe does
29
How does science challenge cosmological arguments?
The Big Bang theory suggests the universe originated from a random appearance of singularity
30
What is Aquinas' Fifth Way?
Something that lacks intelligence cannot move towards a fulfilling end unless something with intelligence moves it
31
What is design qua regularity and what theory does it relate to?
- Things that lack intelligence act with predictable regularity due to divine design - Aquinas' Fifth Way
32
What analogy relates to the Fifth Way?
An arrow (non-intelligent) cannot reach the target (end purpose) by itself, it must be directed by an archer (God)
33
What was William Paley's work and when was it written?
- Natural Theology - 1802
34
What is Paley's teleological argument?
- If a person sees a stone on a heath they can understand how it naturally came to be there - If they see a watch on a heath they must conclude it has been designed by an intelligent being, not by chance, and has been made for a purpose
35
What is design qua purpose and what theory does it relate to?
- Everything in the universe appears to have been designed to fulfil some purpose - Watchmaker analogy
36
What were F.R. Tennant's dates?
1866-1957
37
What is the anthropic argument?
The world has been designed in such a way that is perfect for human life
38
What is the aesthetic argument?
The beauty in the world is not functionally necessary therefore must be the creation of a benevolent God
39
What are 3 strengths of the teleological argument?
1. There is observable evidence of the efficient processes of the world 2. The universe appears adapted to suit human beings 3. Everything appears purposeful
40
What are 3 weaknesses of the teleological argument?
1. There is no evidence to suggest the universe needs a designer 2. J.S. Mill argues there is an abundance of bad design and flaws in the world 3. Evidence of design does not necessarily point to the God of Classical Theism
41
How does Darwin's work challenge the teleological argument?
Evolution suggests the appearance of order emerges from underlying processes which are random and unpredictable
42
How does Dawkins challenge the teleological argument?
A watchmaker has precise intentions whereas natural selection is unconscious and unpredictable
43
How does Lovelocks' Gaia Hypothesis challenge the teleological argument?
Sees the world as a self regulating process, maintaining life without need for external influence
44
How does Newton's 1st Law of Motion challenge Aquinas?
Inertia replaces the need for an unmoved mover
45
Fallacy of Composition - Russell
'Just because every human has a mother does not mean the whole of humanity has a mother'
46
Watchmaker - Dawkins
'The only watchmaker in nature is the blind forces of physics'
47
First Way - Aquinas
'If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must be put in motion by another'
48
Second Way - Aquinas
'for so it would be prior to itself which is impossible'
49
Third Way - Aquinas
'there must exist something the existence of which is necessary'
50
Fifth Way - Aquinas
'some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end'
51
Watchmaker - Paley
'the contrivances of nature surpass the contrivances of art, in the complexity, subtlety, and curiosity of the mechanism'
52
Kalam argument - Craig
'the creator of the universe must be a personal being who freely chooses to create the world'
53
Challenge - Russell
'I would say the universe is just there and that's all'
54
Where does the word 'anthropic' derive from?
Greek 'anthropos' meaning human being
55
What was Tennant one of the first philosophers to do?
Put forward a design argument in reference to evolution
56
What was Tennant's work and when was it written?
- 'Philosophical Theology' - 1928
57
How does Hume criticise the use of human analogies as evidence for design in the universe?
Uses an example of a house and an architect - a house and the universe are too different to draw that point of comparison, regardless of general resemblances
58
Why is analogy insufficient to explain the universe?
The universe is unique and humans have no experience of its design
59
How does Hume reject the comparison of the universe to a machine?
The universe demonstrates greater similarities to living organisms than a static, artificial construct
60
Living organisms vs machines - Hume
'and does not a plant or animal bear a stronger resemblance to the world, than does any artificial machine'
61
In which work did Hume criticise inductive arguments?
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
62
How did Hume argue there is fallacy in the design argument?
It is fallacious to assume the universe is designed just because it seems so
63
What is authentic design?
The idea that God is responsible for the design of the universe
64
What is apparent design?
The appearance of design when none actually exists
65
What is the Epicurean hypothesis concerning design?
The apparent order in the universe is nothing more than the random association of atoms that had previously been in a chaotic state, but have reorganised themselves in a manner that resembles design
66
What is Hume's apprentice God argument?
The alleged God who designed the universe may be an apprentice God lacking in skill, or may have moved on to create better universes
67
What does Hume's apprentice God argument highlight?
Using human analogies in trying to understand the metaphysical is insufficient as may be used to suggest unacceptable ideas about God
68
What are Hume's 3 areas of criticism of design?
1. Insufficient analogy 2. Epicurean hypothesis - apparent vs authentic 3. Apprentice God
69
What features does Paley believe suggests design? (CHIPP)
Complexity Harmoniousness Intelligence Purpose Planning
70
What natural example does Paley compare the watch to?
An eye
71
Which example does Hume use to illustrate the fallacy of composition?
20 particles - if an explanation is found for each particle individually it would be wrong to seek explanation for the whole collection
72
What does Hume call the human need to unite things into a whole?
An 'arbitrary act of the mind' - it doesn't actually exist
73
What does Hume say about the cause of the universe?
'it is neither intuitively or demonstrably certain'
74
What does Hume argue about God's necessity?
You can use the same argument to suggest the universe's necessity
75
Al-Ghazali - Kalam argument
'it is an axiom of reason that all that comes to be must have a cause to bring it about'

Philosophy (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions