Arguments for the existence of God

• technical terms for paley's design argument:

  • a posteriori- based on sense experience (it is empirical)
  • inductive- based on probability and not knock-down proof. conclusion not necessarily true; the stronger the evidence for, the more likely it is to be true
  • analogical: based on a comparison between the features of two different things
• Paley's argument uses the approach of natural theology:

  • makes no appeal to any form of special revelation, e.g. the bible or religious experience
  • uses reason, the latest scientific knowledge and observation
• paley's argument is based on three observations of the world:

  • complexity
  • purpose
  • regularity
• Paley's analogy compares finding a stone in a field to finding a watch, suggesting that the complexity and purposeful arrangement of the watch imply the existence of an intelligent watchmaker. Universe is significantly more complex and also serves a purpose, showing it must have a much more intelligent designer- this designer is god
• illustrations given by paley to support his argument:

  • eye superbly adapted for vision
  • fins and gills of fish perfectly adapted for fish to live in water
  • birds bones, wings and feathers perfect for flight
  • regularity in the universe- orbit of planets and seasons on earth
• david hume and the rejection of the idea of design:

  • such analogies deliberately chosen as they encourage idea of designer, living organisms more appropriate as do not require explanation in terms of designer
  • hume suggested that given constantly changing arrangements of its atoms over an infinite period of time, inevitable order would finally emerge
• hume- little can be said about any designer

  mechanistic analogy= anthropomorphic

  designer not necessarily the god of classical theism -> cause must be proportional to effect, could be a group of deities of different skill

  the problem of evil- why would an all-loving, all-powerful god create such a flawed world
• weaknesses of the design argument:

  • claims made by theism about the nature of a designer god go way beyond the evidence
  • existence of evil suggests incompetent, indifferent or malevolent designer- or none at all
  • apparent order, purpose and design are just chance- support from darwin theory of evolution
  • universe could have 'designed itself' by chance- multiverse theories
• strength of the design argument:

  • swinburne- existence of single omnipotent god simplest explanation- 'simplicity evidence for truth'
  • paley said evil might be unavoidable for god to bring about good -> support e.g. free will defence
  • evolution itself requires explanation (swinburne). not compatible with theism
  • paley's claim 'nature shows intention' is supported by the anthropic principle. the multiverse theory is incapable of proof
• arguments paley's argument doesn't hold status as proof:

  • only deductive arguments can give absolute proof, design argument is inductive so can never be absolutely certain
  • paley's observations to support his argument can be explained naturally, e.g. the regular rotation of the planets is due to gravity. if the multiverse theory is true, then apparent design is pure chance
• arguments paley's argument does hold status as proof:

  • most things we accept in life as true are based on inductive arguments. they are accepted as 'true beyond reasonable doubt' the stronger the evidence, the more probably true a claim is
  • some would argue that the laws of nature require explanation and that we cannot be sure that the multiverse theory is true. this means that the challenges do not diminish the probability that paley's argument is true
• positives- value of paley's design argument for religious faith:

  • paleys argument is rationally and empirically based
  • consistant with biblical teaching that there is a guiding hand directing the whole of nature and human lives in a purposeful way
  • theists cannot prove god's existence but neither can atheists- both rely on reasoning and empirical evidence to create inductive arguments
  • price- religious faith should include both 'belief that' and 'belief in' - paleys argument gives evidence to support the belief that god exists and his description of universe's design encourages belief in god
• negatives- value of paley's design argument for religious faith

  • for fideists- rational arguments play no part in faith as they do not lead to commitment
  • paley's argument does not successfully address the issue of evil
• the relationship between reason and faith- applys to all 3 arguments

  • price's view- 'belief that' and 'belief in' necessary to faith
  • without belief that, 'belief in' has no substance
  • without belief in, 'belief that' has so personal significance
  • rationalist approach- emphasised the role of reason in any consideration of god's existence, without it faith is unscientific, irrational and meaningless
  • fideist approach- claims the use of reason to justify religion is inappropriate. only faith give certainty, personal experience leads to absolute conviction about the reality of god
• technical terms for anselm's ontological argument

  • a priori- non-empirical and relies on logic
  • deductive- aims to give certain proof, if the premises are true then the conclusion must be true
  • analytic statements- based on logic and true by definition
• anselm's argument intro

  • based on anselm's definition of god, and god's existence can be deduced from that definition
  • proposition 'god exists' is a priori and deductive. contains the predicate 'exists' about the subject 'god' so god must exist. it is a necessary truth
  • two parts: proslogium 2 and proslogium 3