Philosophy

Question 1

what is the design argument?

Answer 1

suggests that features of the universe are adapted to fulfil their function that they display evidence of being designed. God is most likely explanation. The argument seeks to explain four features of the world :order, benefit, purpose and sustainability

Question 2

outline aquinas’ five ways

Answer 2

• First way: The argument from MOTION
  -Second way : causation of existence
  -Third way : Contingent and necessary objects
  -Fourth way : The argument from Degrees and perfection
  Fifth way : The argument from intelligent design

Question 3

The design argument is also known as the argument from intelligent design

Answer 3

Aquinas observed that the beneficial order in the universe could not happen by chance. Thus God exists as the explanation of the beneficial order

Question 4

what does Paley argue (in connotation to the design argument)

Answer 4

Paley used the analogy of the watch to compare it to the universe. The watch serves as an analogy of the world. It demonstrates purpose design and order

Question 5

what does Paley argue (in connotation to the design argument)

Answer 5

Paley used the analogy of the watch to compare it to the universe. The watch serves as an analogy of the world. It demonstrates purpose design and order
PALEY ARGUES THAT GOD IS THE DESIGNER BEHIND THESE THINGS

Question 6

design qua purpose

Answer 6

the argument suggest that the universe appears to have been designed to fulfil some purpose

Question 7

design qua regularity

Answer 7

the argument that the universe appears to behave accordingly to some order of rules

Question 8

what is inductive reasoning ?

Answer 8

the bottom up approach, draws conclusions and is based on probability’,
focuses on how conclusions are valid,then applies it to the modern world

Question 9

what is deductive reasoning?

Answer 9

top down approach ,logically certain of a conclusion

Question 10

what does the principle of induction state

Answer 10

the principal of induction states that if something has happened, in particular circumstances a number of times in the past we are justified that the same circumstances will produce x
THIS MEANS THAT INDUCTIVE REASONG DEALS IN PROBABILITIES BUT NOT CERTAINTIES

Question 11

Is inductive reasoning based on experience

Answer 11

yes

Question 12

a posteriori argument

Answer 12

the proof of the statement relies on external evidence

eg: there are more boys taking computer science than girls

Question 13

a priori argument

Answer 13

the proof that the statement does not rely on external evidence
THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT IS AN A PRIORI ARGUMENT

Question 14

outline some arguments that may be a posteriori

Answer 14

the design and cosmological argument, religious experience arguments and problem of evil arguments are all a posteriori

Question 15

what does the design argument suggest

Answer 15

the design argument suggests that like human inventions, features of the universe are so perfectly adapted to fulfil their function that they display evidence of being deliberately designed. God is seen as the most likely explanation . The design argument seeks to explain four features of the world: order, benefit, purpose and sustainability for human life

Question 16

What are aquinas’ four ways

Answer 16

First way : argument from motion
Second way : the causation of existence
Third way : contingent and necessary objects
Fourth way : the argument from degrees and perfection
Fifth way : argument from intelligent design ( the design argument )

Question 17

Outline Aquinas’ First way

Answer 17

Aquinas observed that the beneficial order in the universe could not happen by chance and since many objects do not have intelligence to work towards an end or a purpose, they must be directed by something that does have intelligence. Thus, God exists as the explanation of the beneficial order
THE UNIVERSE IS UNIQUELY DESIGNED. THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS DESIGNED BY AN INTELLEGENT DESIGNER, GOD

Question 18

What is Paley’s argument?

Answer 18

in natural theology, Paley used the analogy of the watch
-it is reasonable to assume that a watch found on a heath came about without the agency of a watchmaker.
It is unreasonable to suggest that the universe came about without the agency of a God

Question 19

Outline some modern day interpretations of the design argument

Answer 19

Tenant stated:
it is possible to imagine a chaotic universe , where there are no rules
there is mire to life than mere existence. Humans appreciate activities such as art, music and literature .This cannot come across as natural selection
This suggests that life is a product of the designer, this is known as the aesthetic argument

Question 20

telological

Answer 20

an argument that suggests that there is a meaning/ purpose

Question 21

inductive reasoning

Answer 21

based on experience - things you see hear and perceive with the 5 senses

Question 22

beneficial order

Answer 22

the beneficial order in the universe means that there are things in the universe that work towards an end or a purpose

Question 23

empirical

Answer 23

draws out from observation of nature and the world that is based on our experience

Question 24

ockhams razor

Answer 24

suggests that the simplest explaination is usually the right one

Question 25

tenant

Answer 25

the universe is evidently not chaotic

Question 26

what is Aquinas' second way

Answer 26

it is the causation of existence this is often known as the uncaused causer. it is often based on the fact that every effect has a cause .Nothing that we experience is caused by itself , there cannot be infinite regression of causes Therefore, there must be a first cause. This is what everyone understands to be God. AO2: what caused God?,Where is the scientific evidence

Question 27

What is Aquinas' Third way ?

Answer 27

contingent and Necessary beings all things in nature are subject to change it is possible that for a thing not to be, then come existence and cease to exist if this is so, then there must be something that brings contingent things that bring into existence since :NOTHING CAN COME FROM NOTHING therefore there must be a being that necessarily exists to bring the contingent world into being. This is what everyone understands to be God

Question 28

What is Aquinas' fourth way

Answer 28

the argument from degrees and perfection everything in the world that exists is mere good there cannot be an infinite scale of good Therefore, there must be something that is perfection .This is what everyone understands to be God

Question 29

what is The Kalam Cosmological argument

Answer 29

is the Islamic form of the cosmological argument , which goes back to Al Kindi and Al Ghazali.The kalam argument shows that "everything that begins to exists has a cause of its own existence . AO2: a strength of this is that it explains the existence of god, and what makes the universe The kalam argument tries to prove that the universe did not come about by chance

Question 30

what does Darwin say

Answer 30

"We are so grotesquely lucky to be here"

Question 31

what is the principle of sufficient reason and who is it by?

Answer 31

Leibniz - the principle of sufficient reason supports the cosmological argument in terms of the principle of sufficient reason by going backwards in time forever , we will never arrive at a complete explanation since there is nothing within the universe to show why it exists

Question 32

what did Leibniz state?

Answer 32

that even if the universe had always been in existence, it would still need sufficient reason for its existence

Question 33

what are the strengths of the principle of sufficient reason

Answer 33

it is simple and easy to understand show that the universe did not come about by chance - this is important for religious believers gives a solution to infinite regress

Question 34

weaknesses of the principle of sufficient reasoning

Answer 34

allows us to question : who created god, what is sufficient if infinity can exist, maybe our minds cant comprehend it therefore, we should not limit our mind by saying god id the answer

Question 35

What is infinite regress

Answer 35

infinite regress is the idea of a process going back into the past with no beginning

Question 36

What does William Lane Craig suggest ?

Answer 36

the universe is infinite and therefore must have had a beginning, it was either caused or uncaused. The universe came about naturally or through personal choice AO2: there must have been a personal agent involved (God) , this personal agent must exist outside space and time , since these came into being at the same point of creation

Question 37

strengths and weaknesses of Craig argument

Answer 37

strengths: there is more validity because his explanation is more open weaknesses: how does Craig know the laws of nature did not exist before the world came into being?

Question 38

Criticisms of the cosmological argument

Answer 38

David Hume - critiscised the cosmological argument in his book Dialogue Concerning natural religion against a first cause for the universe He maintained that the fact that everything in the universe has a cause and does not necessarily mean that the universe must have a cause

Question 39

what are craigs arguments?

Answer 39

1. Why assume that we need to find a cause 2. why look for an explanation for the whole universe 3. is the concept of a necessary being useful 4. if it is, why should it be god and not the universe itself ? 5. the argument begins with familiar concepts but reaches conclusions about the things that are outside our experience 6. If it is not reasonable to look for a cause for the whole chain if we can satisfactorily explain each item in the chain 7. Even if specific instances of things in the universe requires an explanation,it does not follow that this must be the case for the universe as a whole, we cannot work from the specific to the general